Hi i was thinking of getting a Valknut tattooed on my chest but i’m kind of afraid considering that i’m thinking about joining the Army and I dont want people to think that its a racist tattoo. The meaning behind this symbol is that during battle Vikings would have it tattooed on them or they would have the symbol on their person property so that if they were killed in action the feminine angel like spirit known as the Valkyrie would come and take the warrior’s soul to Vahalla which is the Viking version of Heaven where you get to spend eternity with Odin and what not. Any way i know that a lot of people think Nordic themed body art is for the most part is racist but I have Nordic blood in me and I think it would be a cool cultural statement. I live in an Irish neighborhood and all i see is people with Celtic Cross tattoos and i don’t think its fair that i can’t show pride for my heritage. The only problem is that many White Power groups use this symbol.
What do you guys think this is the symbol i want tattooed, do you think it would hinder me from joining?
——http://chaotic-tendencies.com/concept_art/valknut_tattoo.jpg
Getting a waiver for a tattoo is not that hard. I have them on my hands and neck and had no problems. As far as racism goes, though, as long as you have a reasonable explanation for the meaning of the tattoo and it’s significance to you (as you described at length above) you’ll encounter no trouble. As the Army shrinks in the next few years standards will tighten, however, so there’s no garuntee – even if a recruiter okays it – that it will be allowable two years from now.
April 4th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
I’m really not familiar with what counts as "racist" or not. There are Army regulations about tattoos, guidelines about what kind you can have or where they can be visible. Generally, if you can’t see it when you’re in uniform AND it’s not deliberately/obviously offensive, you should be okay. I would say that if your actual beliefs are in the Nordic pantheon, you could make the case that it’s of religious significance; however, if you’re not a practicing member of that faith you’d have a hard time making that case, although it would be hard to prove one way or another. (Lots of people think Norse mythology is cool, but I doubt most of them actually pray to or worship the Norse gods).
If in doubt, ask a recruiter, and maybe even bring in a print-out picture of that tattoo you’re thinking of getting. No harm in asking.
References :
April 4th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Getting a waiver for a tattoo is not that hard. I have them on my hands and neck and had no problems. As far as racism goes, though, as long as you have a reasonable explanation for the meaning of the tattoo and it’s significance to you (as you described at length above) you’ll encounter no trouble. As the Army shrinks in the next few years standards will tighten, however, so there’s no garuntee – even if a recruiter okays it – that it will be allowable two years from now.
References :