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?
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!