There is a theory that the two sides of our faces reveal two sides of our minds, the dominant side (usually right) showing the public and most conscious thoughts and feelings, and the non-dominant showing our inner thoughts and feelings, the ones hidden from others and often from ourselves. Don't know how much validity this has, but the results of viewing this officer's face, one side at a time, are striking. The right side shows grim determination, the left side shows conflict, confusion, even sorrow and shame. It is not easy, but is it possible to see this man as a prisoner? He is jailed behind any number of walls, including the expectations others have of him, what he has been led to believe about what it takes for a society to survive, what he believes will happen to him or those he loves if anarchy is allowed to take root, what he believes it says about him if he allows others to defy him, etc. I would not ask Rob Fish, full of pain as he still is, to have compassion for this man. But I hope a few people can. Rob, I hope and pray that there will be no lasting deleterious effects from your injuries.
God's Peace,
Ann Shenk Wenger