In his article Of Tattoos, Piercings And Old Age (October 6), Victor Calleja ponders on how “could a Prime Minister full of tattoos and piercings be taken seriously?” Although I have not read his whole article, I would still pose a question to the author, or, rather, get back to him by rephrasing his own. How many (non-tattooed) Prime Ministers have, anyway, had the same accomplishments?

On a historical note, Mr Calleja may be interested to learn that there have actually been politicians with tattoos. And they have been taken seriously, at least by many. Although not widely known as a fact, Winston Churchill, himself a Nobel Prize winner (literature), had an anchor inked on his right arm. His mother was also tattooed. And this during a time when, unlike in the 21st century, prejudice against the art was much harsher. President Theodore Roosevelt wore a tattoo of his family crest across his chest. Both his mother and daughter were inked as well. I should also mention that, during a trip to Hong Kong in the 1980s, Caroline and Kara Kennedy were challenged by John F. Kennedy Junior and Teddy Kennedy Junior to get a tattoo, as a result of which Kara ended up with a small butterfly inked on her arm, near the inside crook of her elbow.

I respect Mr Calleja and wish him all the good in the world. I do not expect him to agree with me, nor to share my own tastes. But I totally fail to see any logical implications in his argument. We need to spread love, not prejudice.