If I were to ever get a tattoo, it would probably be of Rafiki. See below…
I know as a Caucasian male, that is somewhat sacrilegious. I should get a Kanji tattoos (and continue to perpetuate the White man, asian fetish stereotype) or an anchor or a skull or something, I don’t know.
Since a tattoo lasts forever, or until an expensive surgery, my stance is that tattoos should represent an important motto or role model or guiding principle for life. It is something that should reminded you of how you are supposed to behave. “F— your mom” probably would not be appropriate.
That’s why, if I had to, I would choose Rafiki.
Perhaps the greatest character ever put to animated film, Rafiki is the perfect representative of how life should be led. He’s a little crazy, a little nuts. He’s a jokester AND a philosopher.
Take, for instance, this nugget he shared with a distraught Simba in the classic animated film “The Lion King”:
Adult Simba: I know what I have to do. But going back will mean facing my past. I’ve been running from it for so long.
[Rafiki hits Simba on the head with his stick]
Adult Simba: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?
Rafiki: It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.
[laughs]
Adult Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or… learn from it.
[swings his stick at Simba again who ducks out of the way]
Rafiki: Ha. You See? So what are you going to do?
That’s golden. You just can’t come by gems like that anymore.
Sure, a monkey head tattoo, depending on its placement on my body, could be weird and awkward, but for a reminder of those lessons on a daily basis, it seems worth it.
What kind of tattoo would/have you gotten?