The Unobtainable Good Things in O’Connor’s A Late Encounter with the En

The Unobtainable Good Things in O’Connor’s A Late Encounter with the Enemy I have Seen the Enemy and it is Myself . . . . . . . She wanted the General at her graduation because she wanted to show what she stood for, or, as she said, "what all was behind her," and was not behind them. This them was not anybody in particular. It was just all the upstarts who has turned the world on its head and unsettled the ways of decent living. (134) These are the thoughts of Sally Poker Sash, as offered by Flannery O'Connor in the second paragraph of her story "A Late Encounter with the Enemy." Sally, a sixty-two year old school teacher, is receiving a college degree that has taken her twenty years to earn. She should be proud of her accomplishment. Of course she should be proud. She proves true the old adages, "its never too late" and "good things come to those who wait." Isn't it possible though, that in some situations, the "good things" come too late and when they do arrive they are not so good? I think O'Connor, through this story, is trying to warn us (the readers) of that possibility. The first paragraph of "A Late Encounter" is told from the point-of-view of Sally's grandfather, General Tennessee Flintrock Sash. O'Connor makes it very clear to us that the old man doesn't "give two slaps for her graduation." Surely, his attitude is apparent to Sally, too. Sally is aware of his attitude, too. Why, then, is it so important to her that he live to see her graduation? In the above passage, Sally offers three seemingly simple, but in actuality, complicated explanations for her prayer. Sally states explicitly that she wants her grandfather to attend her graduation because she "wanted to show what she stood for." This is very ... ...tory, opting instead to make for themselves a false past? Ironically, Sally is guilty of using this false past to impress the Dean and guarantee her degree. Graduation day arrives and Sally is ready for the "good thing" that she has waited so long for to arrive. Alas, if it is her grandfather that she wants to prove something to, she is out of luck. O'Conner cheats Sally out of her moment of glory. We learn at the end of the story that the old man dies while on stage at the graduation, oblivious to Sally receiving her diploma. Afterwards, her young nephew, the "crafty scout" John Wesley Poker Sash, hastily bumped the corpse out the back way so that he could get to the Coca-Cola machine; thus depriving Sally of her moment to gloat in front of him. Dammit! Cheated out of triumph again. Sally Sash (whose middle name is after all Poker) had bet on the past and lost.

Love Is a Mixtape

The playback: late night, Brooklyn, a pot of coffee, and a chair by the window. I'm listening too mix tape from 1993. † This is Sheffield first line in his story of how his life is the connection to not only the world but the love of his life. The love of music is a connection most everyone finds themselves having. Rob Sheffield book Love Is a MIX Tape connects his passion for music and the only other thing that meant Just as much to him, his wife Renee.Sheffield has mix tapes to remind him of every part of his life that's worth remembering not only alone but of the life he spent with Renee. Rob and Renee were two totally deferent people. Rob was an Irish Catholic geek from Boston, and Renee was a country girl three months older than Rob. They grew up living two totally different lives with the same passion for one thing, Music. â€Å"We had nothing in common, except we both loved music. It was the first connection we had, and we depended on It to keep us together. We did a lo t of work to meet in the middle. Music brought us together.So now music was stuck with us. † Sheffield peg. 6. â€Å"Nothing connects to the moment like music† Sheffield peg. 12. This sentence in the book is nothing but true. Most people remember the memories thieve had or the time something took place because of the song they heard or were listening to during that event. Many of times I have related things to music and brought the musical connection into my life. Sheffield talks about how there were many of different mix tapes for different things like tapes for making out, dancing, falling asleep, doing the sizes and even walking the dog.I can personally connect to what he Is stating because I have a plastic for most of the things I do: working out, driving In my car, â€Å"depressing† plastic, playbills for certain concerts I'm going to, shower plastic and so many more. I believe people have these playbills or mix tapes for certain things because it Just goes with that moment in time and it seems like it Just fits, so I totally understand where Sheffield Is coming from. In the book Sheffield says, â€Å"Missy wrote a note to biggie in her booklet: â€Å"Rest in peace, Big.I hope you can hear my album, wherever you rest. † I felt the same way. † Sheffield peg. 1 68. This hit me in a deferent way than it may have hit other people. My friend committed seclude and every time I listen to his favorite songs or songs that were played at his funeral I wonder if he's looking down at me seeing me jam out to the songs and knowing I still care and think about him all the time. I also am the same way with my Great Grandma, every time I hear the song played at her funeral, I sit there and Just think about all of the great times we had when she was here.I feel like I had a special connection to Sheffield at this part of the book. Although some people use music as a connection to their lives, other people find 1 OFF something else that mea ner a lot to them to connect their elite too. A lot to people use books, writing, television shows and even reading to connect themselves to the world. Personally I use music as a connector to the world and Just life itself because like Sheffield stated in his book, every mix tape tells a story, if you put it together all music has a story to tell.I couldn't agree more. Some people may not look at it that way, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I couldn't have said it a better way. Music may be taken in a different perspective by everyone, but no matter who you are, where you want to go in life, or what may be going on in your life right now, there will always be a song that can help you cope with your feelings. Even if music isn't your getaway, there will always be something you can relate to and lean on when things get a little harder than you expected.

Theravada Buddhism Has Been The Pre Dominant Religion /...

Theravada Buddhism has been the pre dominant religion/school in the continental south-east Asia, it is mainly found in sir Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Taiwan and Lous. Today Theravada Buddhist is a group which has well over 100,000,000 member’s world-wide. Theravada is considered to be the soul-survivor of the traditional and original Buddhism. It implies rather traditional and the strictest moral field of teaching. Theravada concentrates on monks and nuns, those who give full devotion to god. They live their lives only by the traditional teachings of the Buddha.The followers for Theravada Buddhism take refuge in the three jewels (which consist of the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha), they also hold high regard for the teachings of Karma, Samsara and Nirvana. Celebrations are a major aspect for Theravada Buddhists but they only have 3 celebrations annually; Buddha’s birthday, the day Buddha was enlightened and the Luna Quarters (crescent moon, first-quarte r moon, gibbous moon, and full moon) it is shunned upon to celebrate occasions other than these because they believe it decreases the value of festivities. Unfortunately the Theravada Buddhists don’t believe in equality for men and women, they still respect and honour women but they believe that women cannot reach the spiritual greatness that mean can quire, this is why only men can be enlightened (those who are enlightened are given the name of arhats). But if a women’s karmic energy is very good, theyShow MoreRelatedThe Religion Of The Hajj1734 Words   |  7 Pages Throughout time, many aspects of life have changed in drastic ways. One common thing around the world, no matter where you are, that has evolved is over time is religion. One religion that has changed has been Islam. Something that unites all Muslims is a common belief they have; The Five Pillars. These Pillars allow the Muslim community to become one regardless of their social statue. One of the most changed of these would be the Pilgrimage to Mecca. Also known as the Hajj, â€Å" Every adult MuslimRead MoreThe Impact Of Theravada Buddhism On The Western South East Asia2973 Words   |  12 Pages1a. Theravada Buddhism has been the pre dominant religion/school in the continental south-east Asia, it is mainly found in sir Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Taiwan and Lous. Today Theravada Buddhist is a group which has well over 100,000,000 member’s world-wide. Theravada is considered to be the soul-survivor of the traditional and original Buddhism. It implies rather traditional and the strictest moral field of teaching. Theravada concentrates on monks and nuns, those who give fullRead MoreMaking Moral Decisions in Different Religious Context.8874 Words   |  36 Pagesworld religions. 1 Indian origin –Buddhism and Hinduism 2 Chinese origin –Taoism and Confucianism 3 Semitic origin –Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Chapter two: (A)-How to make a moral decision? Human as a moral agent analysing their†¦ 1 Background 2 Experience 3 Religion 4 Conscience 5 (B)- Catholic Moral Theory and the Three Font Principle. 1 Act 2 Motive 3 Circumstance Chapter three: The business of morality in each specific Religion. Conclusion: Does religion make aRead MoreCambodia4428 Words   |  18 Pagesthe areas of economic growth, social development, and political development has been stymied will be investigated. A comprehensive look at the educational system of Cambodia will be reviewed along with urban development. History Cambodia is juxtaposed on mainland Southeast Asia between Thailand and Vietnam (2010). Because of Cambodia’s location, it has long been vulnerable to foreign territorial ambitions. Cambodia has struggled to maintain self-identity and survival as a nation (1993). The