movement of the waves
wind, sand, distant horizon
sky meeting water
I walked toward the water, as if pulled to it.
The ocean stops me in a way few things do.
I watched the movement of the waves,
the wind over the sand, the distant horizon,
sky meeting water,
the teals and shades of blue,
washed-out watercolors that were changing by the minute as the sun moved higher,
shining light over the waves,
over the sand,
the world waking up again.
From I See You’ve Called in Dead: A Novel by John Kenney (New York: Zibby Publishing, 2025).
The world waking up again.
Got my coffee and my tablet and opened to the news.
The headline that caught my eye is in the New York Times that stated, “Video of ICE Shooting Becomes a Political Rorschach Test.”
A rorschach test according to Wikipedia is: “The Rorschach test is a projective psychological test in which subjects’ perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning. It has been employed to detect underlying thought disorder, especially in cases where patients are reluctant to describe their thinking processes openly.”
This is the classic ink blot and what do you see?
The headline refers to a video of an altercation between an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and a woman in a mini van.
The headline pre-supposes that when watching the video, a person’s perceptions and reactions can be analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both to examine a person’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning.
It might even be employed to detect a person’s underlying thought disorder, especially in cases where patients are reluctant to describe their thinking processes openly.
Usually a Rorschach test uses an image of an inkblot and some folks see one thing and other folks see other things.
For example, this is Card IV of the 10 card test, sometimes subjectively called the “Father Card” (without empirical verification), is noted for its imposing image and thematic emphasis on authority, strength, and male figures.
For today, the Rorschach test uses this image.
Some folks on viewing this photo see Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers afraid for their lives in a situation where the decision of last resort has become the first response. An officer, seeing his life pass before his eyes as certain death approaches in the form of a weaponized car, makes the only decision left and in the split second of time to make a life or death decision, chooses death and fires his weapon into the driver of the car, some three feet away.
Other folks on viewing this photo see an overaction of deadly force made with malice aforethought and little regard for life or consequences of action. An action that caused the death of a human being with premeditation and with intent to effect the death of the person.*
I put it to you that this isn’t a Rorschach test at all.
A Rorschach test, to me, involves someone being open to look at the image and interpret on its merits.
This photo, a moment in time is nothing but a mirror and folks see exactly what they bring to the mirror and see what they want to see.
How did we get here?
I walked toward the water, as if pulled to it.
The ocean stops me in a way few things do.
- Wording taking from the State of Minnesota Statute 609.185 (Murder in the First Degree).
No Haiku For You 