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This new wave of prejudice gets under my skin

So today I was greeted by an article written in the Guardian which completely took me by surprise (which you can read here) and all I could think was “Wow was this written by Kate Hopkins or what??!”. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kate Hopkins, she is one of the most hated women in the UK at this precise moment based on her mid 1800 style views and complete and utter gaffs whilst on TV.. For example, she stated that she loathes how parents have started to name their children after places around the world (okay go on) and finds it beneath her and ‘common’ yet she called her daughter India. right, I cant help but laugh! and this article was not far from being her own words.

anyway back to the article in hand.

This was not a well researched article but mainly just an article based on someones opinion. I know doctors with full body suits, lawyers, nurses , politicians even high up representatives on the EU. The only thing the author said well in this article was “but a celebratory turning of the ordinary self into a work of art.” I believe this was exactly what should have been written about. People with tattoos have differed over the years and have turn from criminals and those less savory to a much more open playing field of educated adults. Tattoos are about self expression and are less about being pigeon hold into a segregated group of adults needing a chance to fit in or be ‘one of the crowd’.

Lets point out some ideas which were as pointless as some of the comments reiterated on the post. how about, Just to point one thing out, the collective group who crashed the worlds economy were mainly tattoo free, all Islamic terrorists are tattoo free, Hitler was tattoo free, Stalin tattoo free and the list goes on. Yet I think you’d find a plethora of soldiers who fought for your freedom and safety throughout history with the imagination to artistically characterize their body, Why in this day and age is this kind of vitriol abundant in the free world? 

I myself have tattoos draped all over my skin for many many years now, as does my wife and id say 80% of the people I know and grew up with. This is a new generation of free thinkers and artists who can truly define themselves with artistic integrity and beauty and should not stand for the callous underbelly of the world vindicating people and segregating people based on how they look… is this the 1950’s? Actually lets see. that question may not actually be well suited for this argument as every generation has had or done something to infuriate the generation before them only this time round we find ourselves with many ‘authors’ who find themselves in need of telling the world and making it a big show.

But this type of article here in the UK has really started to grind at me.

 

“What about when you get older?”

I rarely hear this kind of statement unless I move or venture out of the bubble that is Brighton, but when I do I cant help but reply with “ill be old, that’s what getting older means” with completely side stepping the subject of their comment. What has it got to do with getting older? Previously tattoos and ink were of such a poor quality that they used to fade and warp into one another, then I’d expect that question, but now, in this day an age technology has surpassed itself. All in all I will be a happy old man , with a beautiful wife, a home full of beautiful grandchildren and (i hope) 3 beautiful children who are so open to opportunities and so open to every kind of creed of a man that they will grow up as better people.

“Now what about getting a job”

This is a completely absurd assumption dredged up by a collective group with baseless assumptions. Tattoos do not define how intelligent a person is or how a person is able to contend with the day to day menial tasks that bore a normal 9-5 worker. I have to admit, I myself have been at the spitting end of this once or twice in my life but its very rare. Are we any less qualified, no. are we any less able, no. are YOU any less able to be professional enough to look over aesthetics, yes. Are you incapable of doing this interview based on your prejudice views, A big resounding YES. I’m happy and content that my family will be provided for and be able to live a full and happy life but this is our world for the time being. Lets just look at this in a different way… will the next generation be happier.. YES.

A quote I read the other day “You will never find a man or women turn their nose up or judge another based on not having tattoos, the only ones who ever judge are those who don’t have any at all”

We live in a world where freedom and expression should not be tainted by the bitter taste of tyranny and prejudice, where a man and women should not feel they have to be accountable for what they say or do but should be applauded for being able to stand up and say ‘this is who I am and I am proud’

What we should really be looking at is why? This is simply put as a generation of tattooed people has been born out of a close minded, segregated, violent, dangerous, uneducated and racist generation before us in the UK. We are the future of this nation and future of this world… The other problem with a defined nation of the last generation is that racism and prejudice were as natural as putting butter on toast. Can’t change their minds so might as well phase them out like white noise.

Long live freedom of expression and down with tyranny, racism and prejudice.

Thanks for reading guys and I hope you enjoyed it

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