A Tattoo Artist's View
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 14:06:43 EST
Subject: Tattoos
To: [email protected]
I wish to respond to your site:
Tattoos are not for Jews.
First off I am NOT Jewish, and second off I AM a tattoo artist!! I have been
tattooing people for the last 7 years, and have always counseled people on
the permanance of tattoos. I also explain to people how the sterilization
process work, what to look for and what questions to ask if they go to other
shops for more tattoos. All of my equipment is hospital - type sterilized,
and the inks are all brand new, as well as my needles. I understand your
concerns about the risks involved with getting a tattoo, and I am also a
Christian person, that up until now had never heard of the things you have
printed here. I would say that if I beleived in these scriptures, then I
would have thought twice before getting my first one. On the other hand, I am
now the proud owner of 17 tattoos, and yes they are removable, (with a ruby
laser) but I have no intention of removing them.
Yes tattoos are addictive, after a person gets their first one, they see that
they can stand the pain of getting one, and are ready to get their next one.
Tattoos are a form of body art, a way of enhancing their body, to make them a
more desirable person, mostly on people who have low self esteem and low self
worth. The presence of a tattoo or many tattoos, makes the person feel
"attractive" and makes them also feel good about themselves.
Times have changed, and tattoos are very "in" at this time, but were also
very popular all through the ages, starting with ancient Malaysians, who
tattooed themselves with bamboo shafts. The early sailors that went to the
Malaysian Island was fascinated with the artwork and wanted some themselves.
This was brought to the western world and later found that it had been a
fascination of the Chinese for thousands of years.
I suppose in my opinion, if tattooing was considered so bad, or against God's
laws, then why has it not been outlawed in all of the countries that it has
proliferated?
Even today with the resurgence of God fearing people warning of the
apocalypse and the second coming of God, why is tattooing still so popular.
I consider my collection an art collection, a story book of such that shows
my state of mind when I got the tattoo. And usually the tattoo represents a
memory or a person that I want to remember, or an event such as the birth of
my children.
Let me know how you feel about this subject.
J.
Hi J.,
Thanks for writing. As I mentioned on the web site, there is nothing wrong for
a Gentile getting tattooed. See
http://www.geocities.com/mnlerner2000/gentiles.html .
The prohibition applies to Jews, just like the prohibition of eating pork. Just
as countries do not outlaw eating pork, they do not outlaw getting tattoos.
The only purpose of my web site was to inform Jews that the practice of
tattooing is forbidden for Jews. The claims about health, fashion, etc. are
only side points.
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