You're Body: A Clean Slate or a Living Canvas?

About an hour ago I was at a tattoo parlor snapping pictures of my best friend getting her eyebrow pierced. I asked how old they tattoo and the tattoo artist said "18, no exceptions." This got me thinking, why is there an age restriction on tattoos? It’s not a drug or anything harmful. So why does it matter how old you are when you get a tattoo? Some states like Connecticut allow 16 year olds with parental consent to get a tattoo. I then continued on in thinking why is it such a debated subject? I understand some people feel tattoos are unnecessary and you are "vandalizing your body." While others feel your body is your canvas for the artwork you desire.

The facts are equal in power for both sides of this argument. The oppositions of tattooing are you may regret it later, sanitary hazards, and social perceptions. Though all of these points are valid, they are all avoidable. If you regret a tattoo later, get a new one to cover it. Getting a cover-up tattoo is as simple as getting the original. Poor sanitization has often been associated with tattoo parlors, and though for some this is a true problem, with proper research this is easily avoidable. The tattoo parlor my friend just got her piercing done was one of the most impeccably clean places I have ever been in. It was probably cleaner than a hospital operating room.

Social perception is a valid factor to take into consideration. If you feel you will be judged for your tattoo, you could opt for a different place so you could hide it or just not get it at all. Frankly, tattoos are not for everybody. Some people worry too much about how others think and those people are sometimes not cut out for the social judgment that is linked with tattoos. The fact of the matter is that no one can decide how you feel about tattoos for you. It is your own choice whether you embrace them or deny them.

Disney: Corrupting Our Princesses

From a young age, almost every child who's got access to mass media has been exposed to at least one Disney princess. Along with these princesses comes the ever famous, ever repeated plot line; a beautiful defenseless princess, a dangerous situation, a handsome prince who will save her, marriage, and then they live happily ever after. When you ask one of these little girls what they want to be when they grow up, it seems harmless for them to counter with the classic, "a princess." This seems fine and dandy to many parents but honestly, what are the Disney princesses doing to little girls?

Take a look at any Disney princess and one thing is certain, they are all unobtainably beautiful. Cinderella, with her big blue eyes and primped blonde hair (a common stereotype of the 'perfect' American woman.) Jasmine, sporting inhumanly long hair that is never messy, not to mention her ultra skanky outfits that in reality would never be worn by a woman of her ethnicity. Or Ariel, who has a very unrealistic hair color, wears only a shell bra, and has a perfect figure. All these princesses are the image of perfection to little girls. When little girls are brainwashed with images of skinny, perfect princesses, they begin at a very young age to compare how they look to these ideas of perfection.

Not only do princesses teach little girls they need to look perfect, but the actions of these princesses teach little girls unlikely goals and unrealistic morals. The obvious thing is the goal of getting married, that is the only goal in a princess' mind.

Alongside this, the prince must pursue them. They are never to go looking for their prince. This idea of helplessness teachs little girls they cannot be strong, individuals with career-oriented goals. Also some of the most minute teachings of the Disney princesses are the worst. Belle and Ariel are probably the worst princesses for little girls to aspire to be. First off, Belle definitely has undiagnosed Stockholm syndrome. Stockholm syndrome is a disease where you feel no matter what somebody does to you, they will change for the better. Belle believes she can be with a man who abuses her father and locks her away in a castle forever. She freely opens herself up to a stranger who has extreme anger and social issues. Take a look at Ariel and you find she is willing to give up her voice and her entire life to be with a man. Not to mention she is definitely an undiagnosed hoarder. So  by the time they are in school, they have been brainwashed of the ideas of feminity, codependency, and perfection. To be frank, Disney is making little girls into "feminidiots."

All these princesses are teaching little girls they have to live up to the ideals of what Disney feels is a 'perfect' princess. Many people may ask how to avoid these teachings? The truth is you cannot avoid it. Disney is everywhere. Even if you never show them one single Disney movie, by the end of preschool they will most likely know every princess my name. So the best people can do now is try to instill the idea that everyone is beautiful, you already are a princess, and never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Don't Ruffle My Feathers

We ducks are the most temperamental of animals. But I'm not trying to make you perceive us in a fowl manner. We are very proud animals, we enjoy knowing our feathers are slicked, our beaks are held high, and our waddle is of the waddliest kind. Whenever someone tries to test us or question our decisions though, they should be prepared to hear a mouth full, or beak full (same difference.) We ducks do not like to get our feathers ruffled by others. We defend our decisions and stand by our actions. Why do you think so many young humans are constantly being chased by a crazed duck so often?

A Duck of Good Taste

Hello,
My name is Dimetry Duck. I am here to discuss the terrible choices humans make regarding ducks. You see I am a duck of good taste, as most of us are. We enjoy finely baked breads, perfectly aged cheese, and only the finest brands of potato chips. But as I notice more and more people throwing pieces of food to ducks, I cannot help but notice the lack of selection and quality humans are beginning to resort to. You see, though humans do not mind the difference in generic and brand name foods, us ducks do. We have a better sense of taste than humans so we can taste the difference. Feeding ducks store brand bread is just unacceptable. It makes our stomachs growl in protest, we despise it. Sadly, we cannot tell the different till we have it in our mouths. So what I am trying to explain is, if you truly love your neighborhood ducks; do not be cheap. Spoil us, otherwise we may go elsewhere.

A Letter to My Dear Cousin Donald

Dearest Cousin Donald,
How are you? How is the pond? Is everything doing okay? How are your nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie doing? I hope they're not causing you too much trouble. I hope Daisy is doing well too. I am writing to you to tell you all about the enlightening experience I had. I met a guy on the pond yesterday named Jeffery Swan. He was a life coach. He told me his life story and how when he was young he was denied by his brothers and sisters as a duckling because he was terribly ugly and did not look like them. He eventually left his family behind to pursue his life away from the teasing and taunting. He finally came to terms with his ugliness when he met a man named Stanley Swanson. He was a beautiful swan that told Jeffery that he would one day become like him if he developed a positive outlook on life. Well Stanley was completely correct! Jeffery is a happy beautiful swan today. I am telling you all this because I'd like you to come out to my lake and visit me one day so I can introduce you to Jeffery. I hoped he could fix your negative feelings toward the world. You must admit uncle, you a rather dismal person. Well I hope you will agree to come. I'm sure it is the curer to all your problems! Hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Dimetry

The Duck Song

I am a duck. It’s quite obvious to see by my duck like exterior. But one thing you must understand is I am a duck full of pride for my heritage. I was recently on YouTube when I stumbled upon a song called "The Duck Song." It was all about a duck that constantly approaches a lemonade stand asking for grapes but denying the lemonade. When the lemonade stand finally brings him to get some grapes, then all he wants is lemonade. I am a bit outraged by this song and I will tell you why. This song is discriminatory to ducks. We ducks are rather intelligent creatures, though humans seem to perceive us as stupid animals. The duck in this song is extremely dumb. First he's asking for grapes at a lemonade stand, seriously? Obviously it’s a lemonade stand. Also, most duck's hate grapes. It's just a proven fact, I never understood why. But one thing we like is lemonade! So these humans have it all backwards, first they think we're stupid, and then they think we like grapes, and then they think we hate lemonade! Frankly I feel humans need to do their research thoroughly before making up stories about us ducks.