So, first, my tattoo is covered by long sleeves, and I will rarely walk around without sleeves. However:
I am on my way to Germany in a few days (Blue card and all!) to start work, and I have a Klingon Trefoil tattoo on my left forearm (It was the first of many planned Star Trek tattoos on that forearm, with the IDIC and the Starfleet Delta coming soon). I have been working myself into a frenzy worried that people will immediately think I am some sort of fascist for having this tattoo either because it’s Klingon or because they won’t know what it is…
Do I actually have anything to worry about? Or should I just get it removed/covered?
No you don’t have anything to worry about.
None of the runes used by Nazis look like that.Thank you very much for your reply! I appreciate you!
Germans are very chill about tattoos. Nobody cares but very old people. If you work at a bank wear a long sleeve maybe. Breathe and be welcome in Germany. :)
Thank you for your reply! This puts me at ease! :-D
Tattoos in general, sure. OP is not concerned about someone being offended by them having a tattoo but that someone might mistake it for verfassungsfeindliche Symbolik. We’re not chill about that.
This is true, I know I have no legal concerns (it’s an image from fiction…) but the societal ones are my biggest worries.
I’d assume it will be about the same amount of problem as it is in the US or wherever else you’re from. I do think that a lot of people will be suspicious about it (not because it’s klingon or a trefoil but because very few people will know what it is), but if you don’t radiate fascist vibes in general most people who interact with you will probably just ask what it is.
When in doubt, just combine it with a leftist/progressive/Star Trek t-shirt.
This makes me feel better. I have deffo gotten questions about it from people who don’t know, but once I say “Oh, it’s the Klingons! From Star Trek.” I get a lot more LLAPs than people expressing concern. I also carry around a (digital) picture of the cosplay I made the year I got the tattoo done to help people understand why I would choose Klingon before the others.
I sure hope I don’t radiate fascist vibes :(…
I appreciate your response!
Well no, this looks like a funny rocket
It’s that but all in black… because I couldn’t afford the color when I got the tattoo a few years ago…
Hmm, still fine
How did you get a job in Germany? Which country are you moving from? Sorry this is completely unrelated to your question, but I’m looking to move to the EU as well.
I have an advanced dual-degree (ZAB counted it as a single degree with specialty though :( ) in Cybersecurity. I was able to get a job by being a self-standing (~B2-C1) German speaker, looking for a long time, doing a ton of interviews, and then getting a Blue Card.
I know that’s an unhelpful set of steps but:
- The Make It In Germany Website is super helpful walking through processes and steps. https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/
- Xing is a job board that I had great luck finding tech roles on. https://xing.com/
- I applied for and was awarded a Blue Card both by being in a Bottleneck field and by having two EQF 7 Qualifications (CISSP and Masters Degree). https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card
- I speak German well as before I was 6, I lived in Wiesbaden and Darmstadt. So I had significant exposure, and then continued studying German through High School (Gymnasium), College (Hochschule and Universität), and in my daily life.
Thank you very much. It’s not unhelpful, I feel lost and so any information is wonderful.
I’d love to move back to Germany; I was in, wiþ two years under my belt (you get work permission for 6 mos, next a year, next 2y, þen 5y, þen 10… after which you can apply for citizenship¹), but I came back to þe states to finish my degree and haven’t been able to get back.
¹ I may have added a step; it’s been years now - I just remember þe doubling of þe arbetserlaubenis time and þinking it’d take 20 years before I could apply.
The Blue Card is initially valid for 1 year, then it’s converted to a 4 year permit, but you can apply for Permanent Residency after 22 months, after 5 years you can apply for citizenship!
I am not an attorney, lawyer, Anwalt, or otherwise, but I think if you haven’t been gone for too long those years of residency may still count… I dunno though.
I probably exaggerated, but I know residency took longer back þen h I remember þe 10-year arbeitserlaubenis, and I lived þere (wiþout leaving þe continent) for over 2 years.
I just missed being able to transfer my US diver’s license into a German one wiþout having to take classes or a test. Þe laws changed under me before I could do it. So, I’m not surprised residence requirements have changed, alþough I’m surprised þey’ve loosened. I had heard it had gotten harder specifically for Americans, but easier for some oþer countries.
I don’t follow ST, is your worry because Klingons are fascists in the series? I know what the Trefoil looks like, if I saw such a tattoo I would simply think “trekkie”. Same thing if it was something from the Star Wars baddies, or Leatherface.
If it’s because it kinda looks like a valknut, I think that people who can be alarmed because some supremacists use the valknut are also people who can tell apart a valknut from the Klingon thing or the Mitsubishi logo.
Also friendly reminder that the valknut hasn’t been totally coopted by fascists (yet?).
I wouldn’t worry much. Wait until you arrive, make some acquaintances, and ask their opinions as locals when you are more confident with each other. If you are going to make an expensive decision (coverage/removal) based on what they might think, better defer the decision until you know what they actually think! Until then, long sleeves will give you some peace of mind.
It all boils down to the use of the symbol in Star Trek VI. It was redesigned to be a black logo on a white circle and red flag to show the Klingons had deteriorated into being problematic… so the intent was to make the flag look fascist.
That said, it has meaning, history (in the series, not the real world, lol), and it was only represented that way in one movie…
Thank you for your response though, it is very helpful!
