writing

Truth be Told, Dare I Say

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Truth or Dare.”

White or not, lies are simply untruths, no matter what. No in between. Gray is only a color when it comes to honesty. Either you ate that last sliver of pie or not. Either you cheated or not. Either you stole or not. Either you killed or not. So blatant, is it not, if you are guilty or innocent of such acts? Must we hire someone like Alan Dershowitz, Esq.?

We end up mincing words or saying it is all a matter of semantics when confronted to tell the truth. A simple admission with no qualifiers or modifiers is what honesty truly means. The phrase, “being too honest,” is mistaken for earnestness. As if adding any more to the truth, if you take the meaning literally, would make it that much more truthful. Instead, it borders on gossip or making excuses.

As for honesty being the best policy, I say yes to that for the sake of self-integrity. If there is only one rule to follow, I dare say, always be honest to yourself if to nobody else.

A Nod to Monadnock

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

From the Marriott to New Hampshire’s Mt. Monadnock in the early Sunday morn. Breakfasted at T’s where the omelet fillings fell short due to the cook’s lack of skill with the skillet. Arrived at the foot of the mountain and parked next to a blue SUV with a license plate from Miami. On Memorial Day, they chose crags over skittering crabs along the seashore. Followed the White Dot Trail, so full of energy at the start. Panted as the steps got steeper. Dripped sweat as legs felt heavier. Sighted the summit and reached the top at last. Refreshed by the breeze and a long drink of water. Savored the beauty of my expanded horizon. Headed back down by way of the White Cross Trail. Wobbled halfway to the parking lot. Knocked out by the grand Mt. Monadnock.

©2015 Karina Pinella

An Immorality Tale

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

Half-Chechen and half Avar—the Tsarnaev brothers—Tamerlan and Dzokhar. They came to America, received love and welcome from us Bostonians. In return, they cooked up nails, ball bearings, and black powder to show the world their militant Islamic power. A showdown in Watertown—one down, one to a holding cell. Thus, the hearing began. Silent, stoic, Dzokhar displayed no remorse, no affect. His tears trickled only by reason of mirror neurons. His wailing aunt a touch away would have moved him to yawn instead had that been her lead. At last, the jury is out—death penalty for one who lost his morality. A sentence to life or death still seems not enough for the marathon effort the survivors have to bear until their dying breath.

©2015 Karina Pinella

A Vent on Glyphosate

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

Take the spotlight away from Deflategate and aim it at glyphosate, an active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup since the 1970s. Around for over 40 years, glyphosate has found its way into our drinking water like many other toxic byproducts from the creations of our esteemed chemists. I am not denigrating innovation, I am just venting my frustration over the paradoxical mess we, as a society, have gotten ourselves into. We want to make great discoveries, such as controlling the growth of our crops to feed the masses. But like mass production of clothes, quality can be compromised. Continue reading →

Bruce

/ Karina Pinella / 1 Comment

Bruce made quite the news
‘Cuz he’s the Jenner gone transgender,
Nothing to do with glamour or glory.
He told the truth on TV.

He’s already in his mid-sixties,
Served time under his self-imposed penalties.

But his message is not just about him,
It’s to shine light on a subject so dim
That so many have suffered much abuse–
Perhaps Bruce’s message will help spread the news:

That you can be yourself without fear or shame,
For underneath we are all the same.

©2015 Karina Pinella

Us

/ Karina Pinella / 5 Comments

Red, yellow, black, white . . .
Colors that can cause delight or a big fight,
Depending on the spectrum of your tolerance.

All lives matter,
For we are all made from the same batter.

Let’s take away labels, beginning with race.
The only purpose it serves is to peg a tight space,
Where movement is suppressed,
Cultivating a perspective that is narrow and depressed.
Stop writing on the blanks where it tells you to choose your label.
Why perpetuate an age-old myth that’s real purpose is to shackle?

You, me can start to stop the fuss,
Let’s just label ourselves US (of America)

©2015 Karina Pinella