body modification

There will always be a line drawn in the sand when it comes to the perception and acceptance of body modification. on one side there are the people who see it as a sin, claiming that GOD didn't intend for our bodies to be altered, that if GOD wanted us to have piercings, tattoos, larger breast, tight pointy noses multi colored hair, etc... then he would have created us with those features.. Well to that i say, if you have EVER cut your hair or painted your nails, then you have altered the natural progression of your bodies appearance. so shove that up your holy rollin @$$..... then there are people that look at body art as "unprofessional" that it gives off a "bad" image and makes you look like a thug or freak of sorts.. well as a fireman I'm forced by my superiors to keep all tattoos to a minimum visible level (and they are trying to pass it in my dept that NO tattoos can be visible) and my piercings are not allowed to be seen (even women firefighters can not wear earrings while on duty), but i am 100% certain that if your house was burning to the ground or you were trapped in a car that was just t-boned.. you wouldn't give a flying flip whether i had gauges in my ears or tattoos covering my body or whether my hair was brown or green.. you would just want my help.. and many people can look 100% "acceptable" when dressed but remove the layers of clothing and a true artistic masterpiece is revealed.
      Now granted, there are people that take body modification way farther than i ever would, but who am i to judge them?? they are happy with themselves and that is the ONLY importance in the equation. I see "body art" as a freedom of expression, of ones journey through life, their relief of the norms that society has forced down our throat on a daily basis. Its a person saying "this is ME, love me, hate me, but i am BEAUTIFUL!!! So if a person chooses to modify their body and appearance then they should have every right to do so, and every right to show it off with pride, without fear of persecution or professional criticism, and damn sure shouldn't be disciplined for expressing their individuality!!