As tattoos become more involved and evident in American culture, they are affecting the way people perceive what is professional and what is a personal expression. Through this growing trend of tattoos in our culture, the question of what is socially acceptable begins to beg for an answer. If all forms of expression are acceptable as a whole, does that make all tattoos acceptable and presentable in all situations? With the professional image emphasized in American industry, there is reason to be concerned about where to draw the line when it comes to the acceptability of tattoos in the workplace. Between America's interpretation of "professional" outward appearance, current tattoo policies in the workforce, and possible violations of the First Amendment, a biblical view, and health code violations, tattoos ​​are the subject of numerous deliberations. For those who desire a tattoo or those who wish to start a respectable and well-associated business, it is important to understand that tattoos are permanent marks on the body and when discovered they can have greater consequences than we imagined. They are an integral part of the bodies that are marked and, in turn, the bodies that mark America. It's not that tattoos are a horrible form of self-expression, but that there is a time and place to make a statement, and the field of work is not one of them. The art of tattooing began as a tradition in the cultures of the ancient Orient at a time around 6000 BC. From then on, tattoos made their way to Eastern civilization and then to America in 2000 BC (Sanders 9). The first entry of tattoos as a part of American culture began with the military, when veterans would come home and mark their bodies as a tribute to their time spent in the war and... . middle of paper ......se of tattoo Patron." Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services 20.4 (2013): 389-99. EBSCOhost. Web. October 21, 2013. Sneden, Priscilla. "The body realigns politics in tattoo material." Marines 39.1 (2010): 32-35. MasterFILE Premier Web. November 20, 2013 Vanston, Deborah and James Scott. "Health risks, medical complications, and negative social implications associated with tattooing and body piercing practices among adolescents." Studies in Vulnerable Children and Youth 3.3 (2008): 221-33. Vanston, Deborah and James Scott. "Health risks, medical complications and negative social implications associated with tattooing and body piercing practices among adolescents." Studies in Vulnerable Children and Youth 3.3 (2008): 221-33. About tattoos? » Biblical FAQ. United Church of God, 2013. Web. November 18. 2013.