a question about arabic tattoos

I'm curious as to why so many people seem to want tattoos that are in arabic/farsi as of late... One of my coworkers today asked me if I could translate some scripture for her to get tattoo'd... And I must be evil, I had this overwhelming urge to make something completely up. Instead, I was nice and lied saying I didn't know all the words to translate the piece. I just don't understand the concept of getting this (or any) language on you if you can't read it, or understand it etc. Is there any particular reason why so many people want this lately, am I missing some deep meaning in this fad? And seriously, that's what it appears to be... I'll gladly translate words for military folk who've been stationed overseas etc, I understand that there's some meaning for them invovled. But.... as for everyone else, I don't see any general love for middle easterners or the culture, and I'm surprised at how many people seem to request these translations?! meh. maybe my panties are in such a twist because the individual who asked for the translation today also constantly refers to middle easterners and indians as "sand n***ers" and terrorists. grr

Bee, This is purely a fad... Hell, If our men and women were stationed anywhere else in the world it would be that language... On the other hand it is a beautiful language to look at. Please don't get me wrong, I say that with the respect that I have no clue where to begin as far as translation goes. So from an outsiders it does make for an aethetically pleasing tattoo.... In my opinion.... When in doubt, if someone asks you for a translation just say sure, and then translate "I am the slave girl" instead. You'll giggle.... =P

....and as far as your officemate goes.... is there a translation for "hypocrite?".... what an asshole.

ugg. i call her the sorority girl. she's not my favorite person in the world. but she has her uses. for example, she's more patient with the fax machine than i am.. hmm. fake translation doesn't sound like a bad idea, but i'd feel like i was going to hell for doing it to scripture!

Well, good point.... do it anyway girl!!! I know ya got it in ya!!! =P You are obviously a very intelligent woman who understands that there are fake fucking people like that everywhere you go. And as long as the limelight is on them that is all they care about. In her case I would almost guarantee that what she wanted translated has little to no true meaning to her except to serve as a conversation piece.... Just another piece of shiney plastic on a cheap chandelier; nothing more, nothing less....J

Oh boy, here we go again, but is it just me that thinks perhaps it's just a little wrong to be tattooing a language predominately used by people to whom we are infidels and whose religion supposedly condones killing infidels and the religion of the people who have already killed over 2500 of our troops in Iraq? I realize there may well be people to whom that is their native tongue who may well be 'good, American citizens' but it doesn't sound like it's 'them' asking for these translations or these tattoos. As a Viet Nam vet I admit this may be something I'm just a bit picky about and I can only speak for myself but I KNOW I would not have liked to 'come home' to see people sporting the 'other sides' words/lettering on 'em! Personally I haven't and won't do any arabic words/symbols on anyone, I can't read it, don't care to learn it and would not want it on my conscience if I later found out it made a statement totally against my beliefs, like 'Jihad', for example. Just something ya might want to think about...Doc

Bee, I dunno, actually, I thought Islam had some kind of a "Not fucking up you body with Tattoos" clause... so I'm curious too...

While I am in no way an expert in Islam...it seems that this religion ,as is true in nearly all organized religions, is full of condtradictions.....the "true" muslim adheres to a pacifistic idealsim while in truth most Muslims extant in todays world advocate death and violence to any who may not agree with their tenets and sociopolitical mores...and no I Will not tattoo Arabic on anyone unless they ARE arabic and I know for SURE exactly what I am tattooing on them....This is just one more dumbass fad we have to work through...Doc and I are in complete agreement as usual!!....TAz

one note before i get on with the major part of this post: it's very important not to associate the arabic language (or any language) with a religion or sect. there are major differences there. not all middle easterners are followers of islam or support the jihad. (in fact, the majority of american-middle easterners, and middle eastern immigrants that i've met are actually byzantine catholic). but anyway. that said. i can see where Doc is coming from and respect that. What I respect even more from those that posted is the objection to just arbitrarily tattoo these translations onto those who have no connection to the language or really have no idea what the translation means... i don't know why it bothers me so much, i'm not sure it would bother me as much if my family wasn't of middle eastern descent (sp?). i only know of a handful of actual middle easterners with the language permanently in their skin -- and it's all in reference to the family and how they ended up americans. it's not something trite or meaningless, or a fad... most middle easterners, especially those of us who are only 1st and 2nd generation american-born -- do not flount our heritage -- in fact, i often lie and say i'm french. (hell, you'd never know looking at me that i'm Syrian. i can pass) you just never know how the other person will react to you. so. i can only imagine what other middle easterners think when they see a young man or woman all red-haired and freckled sporting arabic writings on their arms etc. /end incohesive rant.

The fuck with them as ask, "What does that say?".....

My God....Could I have butchered the english language anymore in that last sentence!!! Judas! Sorry, but I'm calling myself out on that one!

You did a pretty good job on that one. I have no idea what the hell you were trying to say.

...Actually maybe there is some deep poiniencey (sp?) to it..... Oh hell, who am I kinding? I gave up thinking HOURS ago!

yeah, like, who needs thinking! that's all for like, smart people and stuff.. I'm not going to think for the rest of the night either!! I am so boycotting thinking for the....wait.. what was I just talking about?

I recently had a piece done in black and gray, It’s a dragon wrapped around the pyramid with the Eye shown on the back of the dollar bill. The whole thing rests on a crypt. The placard on the crypt that has my Dad’s name with 1929 -2005 on it. However the Name is written in (pigpen) Masonic cipher lettering. I wanted his name but did not want a recognizable Name (Bob, John ect.) I had debated in my mind as to whether to do it in Hebrew. I’m glad I went with the Masonic font. There seems to be a pop culture favoring the middle eastern writings. I guess it’s because it is dated back to ancient writings, or maybe it’s resemblance to Elven from Lord of the rings and the hobbit.