Reforming the U.S. tax code to eliminate tax credits Essay

Reforming the U.S. tax code to eliminate tax credits - Essay Example The goals of the reforms on the taxes is to realize the objectives of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reforms, whose major goal is to give the people responsibilities related to the growth of the economy in accordance with the level of affluence (Becerra 45). My Position on Flat Tax Rate Flat tax rates imply that the people pay the same amount of tax regardless of their level of income. When the tax rate is constant, all the taxpayers are to be subjected to the same amount of tax without deductions or exemptions. According to the Americans Bill on the reforms of the tax code, flat tax would broaden the tax base while enforcing that every individual pays the tax without any deductions. The flat tax rate payment would benefit the people in various dynamic ways such as it would spread the burden of paying the tax on every citizen in the country. In essence, the flat tax rate if adopted would increase the burden on the middle class incomers while relieving the riches t. As a result of that it would not be considered as a fair way of building the economy as the rich who use most of the economic resources are not taxed according to their level of affluence (Diamond & George 140). ... One of the advantages for lowering the tax rate is that it increases the revenue to the state: the disposable income of citizens increases thereby presenting more money into the government’s account to be used in enhancing economic growth. The provisions contained in the act of lowering the tax on the low incomers is that, the government posed into a situation where it cannot waste its expenditures as the procedures of the government strictly looked into (Jones, John & Teresa 13). On the other hand, the service delivery to the people may be poor; for example, the prison and other welfare activities in the social systems. The government may fail to offer some of the fundamental services to the people as they may not collect the required minimal revenues that can efficiently meet the social needs of all in the country. As the tax rolls decrease, the ability to accomplish such projects lessens. Consequently, the rich may seek for ways to evade the tax as the state may seem biased towards them. The notion is that, it is only the middle class earners who are the favored in the context of tax collection, and the amount of tax levied upon them. Basically it may seem unfair but, in a rational point of view the rich should pay as much as they consume in the economy (Lymer & Lynne 75). The impacts of lowering tax on the low incomers and increasing the same on the rich Economic development based on the level of affluence of the people should be rationally distributed with regards to the people’s levels of affluence. The rich should heavily pay taxes in that they utilize most of the economic resources while the poor hardly get the platform to do the same. Fairness in the tax distribution and levies in a rational point of view imply that, those who leave a huge economic

Making Dreams Come True Essay Example for Free

Making Dreams Come True Essay As a child, did you ever wish upon a star? Did you ever dream of being a prince or princess in a magnificent castle? Or dream of being able to fly high above the tallest buildings? I know I did, I had many dreams. Many children dream of magical places they want to go, people they want to be, and things they want to feel. The Walt Disney Company has strived to make these dreams of children a reality. Whether it is getting to meet a princess, or getting a new pair of shoes, The Walt Disney Company wants to make every child feel special. The founders, Walt and Roy Disney, originally strived to create animations of fantasy worlds filled with scenes that would make anyone feel warmth. They continued their works by creating physical worlds of excitement; ones that children and their parents could enjoy together. Past and present, Disney also has helped out the community in numerous ways. Today The Walt Disney Company is still making dreams come true. On December 5, 1901, the creator and backbone of Disney, for many years, was born. Walter Elias Disney was most famous for his contribution to the entertainment world in the twentieth century. He went on to become very well known for his motion pictures. Walt Disney created many short films and full length animations; he also was the mind behind the world famous Disney theme parks. Throughout his career, he won 26 Oscars, 37 other awards, and 41 nominations. Walt still holds the record for the most awards ever (Walt). Although Walt Disney is most famously associated with Disney, he was not the only one in on the business. Roy Oliver Disney was Walter Disney’s older brother. Roy was born on June 24, 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. He co-founded Disney along with his brother and served as the chief executive officer of Disney for most of his life. He contributed to all the work that was done with Disney up until his death in 1971. Unlike Walt, Roy was alive to see the opening of Walt Disney World three months before he passed away (Roy). The Walt Disney Company started in a small Los Angeles office in 1923 by the Disney brothers. Their first real production was The Alice Comedies. The Alice Comedies grew popularity quick, and The Disney Company began to flourish. Five years later, the most famous Mickey Mouse was born; Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck and other Disney characters soon followed. Then in 1937 Disney’s first animated movie was produced; Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was pure success worldwide. Over the next few years, Disney decided to expand his ever-growing company, so he moved to Burbank to build a new studio. There, during the 1940s and 1950s, he along with his team created some of the classic Disney animations including Bambi, Fantasia, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan (History). Mickey Mouse has a long history; he celebrated his 80th birthday in 2008. Oswald the lucky rabbit was the original character. He starred in a black and white short film cartoon, where he had long black ears, a round pudgy belly, big goofy feet, and a huge but thin smile. He wore high white shorts, with white shoes and white gloves. Walters’s idea of Oswald came after The Alice Comedies series, but was influenced by them. The design came from Alice’s husband Charles Mintz. Walt later decided he wanted to give Oswald a makeover, so he decided to turn him into a mouse. At first he named this mouse Mortimer, but the name did not last. To this day, no one really knows the reason the mouse’s name was changed, but the most popular story is that Walter’s wife did not really care for the name. I am sure Disney was happy that he changed the name, seeing what success would come from the new revised character. After much debate, the character was created and named Mickey Mouse (Suddath). Mickey’s first couple appearances were not a success. All doubts were put to rest when Steamboat Willie hit the big screen, starring Mickey Mouse. The film was the first animation with synchronized sound effects and music. Mickey Mouse’s career had begun, and it was just the beginning. A little over ten years later, animator Fred Moore had an idea to make over Mickey once again; this was another brilliant idea in my eyes. Mickey was originally designed out of circles, therefore limiting his movements. The new Mickey was hoped to move more freely across the screen. Moore also proposed the idea of making a cuter Mickey. As a result, he gave him a pear-shaped body, eyes with pupils and a cute shortened noise. The new Mickey first appeared in one of the earliest and well-known classics, Fantasia; and for the first time, he appeared in color. Mickey continued to appear in short films throughout the years (Suddath). Today Mickey is not as popular in animated films, but I would not hesitate to say he is still alive in the Disney atmosphere. Mickey and Minnie are still recognized worldwide today. After the initial years of getting the Disney Company started, a lot of progress happened very quickly. In 1937 Disney made history by making the first full length animated motion picture; it was titled Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The famous film was written based on the tale Snow White by Brothers Grimm (Snow). To follow were many Disney classics that children still enjoy watching today. Some of my favorites include Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and The Beauty and the Beast. Disney has created 96 animations and is still created them today. Of those 96 movies, 45 of them are considered classics (The Walt Disney Company). Many of these Disney characters are the focus of two main theme parks that Disney created for everyone to enjoy first hand. To many children and even adults, the Disney parks are magical places. Nothing says it better than their slogan, â€Å"Where all dreams come true. † This is exactly what Walt Disney wanted; he wanted to create a place of magic for both children and their parents. Disneyland is located in Anaheim, California and Disneyworld is located in Orlando, Florida; they are the two amusement parks in the United States. There are also four other parks around the world, along with a Disney cruise line (Walt Disney). Disneyland was the first of the two to be created; it was the only park that Walt Disney himself actually got to witness being built and finished. Construction of the park was started on July 17, 1954, and was opened exactly one year later. Disneyland was a hit from the beginning, opening day was said to be a disaster because it was so overcrowded. The original park cost a massive 17 million dollars to complete. In the 1990s The Disney Company decided to expand the park. It was transformed into a park along with a resort. Along with the Disney Resort, Disneys California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel were created. Inside of Disneyland, there are a handful of mini lands, or at least this is how I see them. I would describe these as brief, but nonetheless powerful and exciting places that are seen around the world or in Disney productions, all composed inside one theme park. One that I particularly remember is the Haunted Mansion which is found in the New Orleans section of the park. The Haunted Mansion was constructed to look like an old southern plantation; inside it, it was created into a haunted adventure. These marvelous attractions draw many guests from around the world every year. As of 2007, Disneyland had been visited by over 14,800,000 people (Disneyland). In 1959 Walt Disney thought about creating another theme park. His main concern was the location because most of the people who came to Disneyland were from the west; which was a downfall because at the time most people lived in the east. Therefore, he wanted to open the Disney experience up to the whole nation by creating a new park closer to those on the east coast. The process of just getting approved for a large piece of land took many years. He had been denied numerous times. Finally, Orlando, Florida was chosen as a site for the new park. Sadly, Walt died in 1966, five years before the park was ever opened. Along with Walt Disney World, Epcot was created in 1982. Epcot is known today as the community of tomorrow. Like Disneyland, Walt Disney World also contains a resort and other parks within. Walt Disney World has not only become the most popular Disney Park, but the most popular entertainment attraction in the United States. On average, 40 million people visit each year. (Walt Disney World). Disney does not only vision to give children an experience of a lifetime through movies and theme parks, but through more heartfelt ways such as giving to charities. In 2008, Disney donated 209 million dollars to charities around the world, hoping to make wishes come true among families. They also have a program for volunteers called VoluntEARS. The company has been serving the community for over 26 years. In those years, the members have helped in 42 countries and contributed 5,000,000 hours of volunteer work. Most recently, in honor of Disney’s 55th anniversary, they are running a deal to promote community service. Disney is offering a free ticket to their park if anyone donates a day to a participating Disney organization (The Walt Disney Company – Corporate). Disney has a long history and it is still striving to create magic every day. Children still enjoy watching the same Disney classics that children watched over 50 years ago. Although Disney’s first few movies are still popular today, new animations are still being made, and are still becoming great hits. Disneyland and Walt Disney World are still magical places that will surely bring a smile to a child’s face. But most importantly, Disney is continuing to fulfill dreams through their community service; these dream come trues are truly magical.

The Great Depression Essay -- American History

The causes and far-reaching effects of The Great Depression are examined. Discussion includes its impact on both American cultures and nations around the world. The role of World War II and the New Deal in overcoming the Depression are explored. The Great Depression began in October 1929, when the stock market in the United States dropped rapidly. Thousands of investors lost all of their of money and were forced to live on the streets often going without food. This crash led into the Great Depression. The ensuing period of 10 years ranked as the worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and without food. Many people came to depend on the government or charity to provide them with food. The Depression became a worldwide business slump of the 1930's that affected almost all nations. It led to a sharp decline in world trade as each country tried to protect their own industries. The Depression led to political turmoil in many countries such as Germany where poor economic conditions helped lead to the rise of Hitler. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President in 1932 and his 'new deal' reforms gave the go vernment more power and helped slow the depression. The Great Depression ended as nations increased their production of war materials at the start of World War II. This increased production provided jobs and put large amounts of money back into circulation. Several factors led to the great depression. One being the lack of diversification in the American economy. The prosperity of America had been basically dependent on a few industries like construction and the automobile and in the late 20's these industr... ...l deficit and Bennett cut back on government spending. A great burden on the country was Canadian National Railway, the government had to take over many railways and from that took in a debt of over two billion dollars. After seeing president Roosevelt's New Deal policy having good results in the U.S. Bennett introduced policies based on the New Deal. Bennett started up minimum wage and unemployment insurance. However Bennetts attempts to revive the economy were not nearly as successful as Roosevelt's. as a result the depression was worse in Canada than in the U.S., and this led to the defeat of Bennett in the 1935 election to liberal Mackenzie King. Like in the U.S. the Great Depression did not end until the outbreak of the second world war. A boost in the economy was created by a strong demand of Canadian goods in Europe and an increase of government spending.(ibid)

Enduring Pak-China Relations Essay

During Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s visit to China, there have been speculations that he undertook this ‘emergency’ trip in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden’s killing in Abbottabad by US forces. Nothing could be further from the truth. During the visit, the Chinese leadership assured Pakistan of their full support in its hour of need. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao informed Pakistan that China had urged the US to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty. In addition to agreements on banking, technical and economic cooperation, China agreed to expedite the delivery of 50 J-17F Thunder fighter jets to Pakistan. This has provoked some American Congressmen to interpret it as Pakistan’s leaning on China to countervail pressure from Washington. Contrary to speculations, this visit was not prompted by the Abbottabad incident. It was planned much before and was part of the ongoing Pak-China strategic relations. Also, 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the Pak-China relationship and has been designated as the year of friendship between the two countries, which was reflected in the celebrations and extraordinarily warm welcome extended to Pakistan’s prime minister in China. Therefore, to suggest that the visit was organised on the spur of the moment is misleading. Pakistan and China have a longstanding relationship, especially since 1962, when China and India went to war over a disputed border. The Chinese have been steadfast friends and have supported Pakistan through thick and thin. China’s interest lies in a stable and prosperous Pakistan. They have been very generous in sharing their development and progress in the economic and technical fields and have aided Pakistan in every possible manner. Therefore, the visit of Prime Minister Gilani should not be considered as reactive. Pakistan is a sovereign country (despite challenges) and has the right to choose its friends and explore options for positive relationships other than the US. Pakistan is not bound to have a one-track relationship with the world through the US. The US raid in Abbottabad created a perception that Pakistan’s air force is weak and compromised, prompting India to remark that it could carry out similar attacks on jihadi outfits in Pakistan. Like a true friend, the Chinese have agreed to speed up the production and delivery of 50 JF-17 Thunder aircraft for Pakistan. This has not only sent a clear signal to the world that China stands by Pakistan but will actually strengthen our air defense against any such misadventure. Gwadar port: China has a keen interest that Pakistan’s vision to become a trade and energy corridor, which links Central Asia, Russia and China with the warm waters of the Arabian Sea should become a reality. If the Gwadar Port develops and is linked with rail and road infrastructure, China’s interests will also be served. Compared to shipping from the eastern seaports, trade through Pakistan will tremendously ease trade for China. China wants to develop its relatively undeveloped interior western regions. The best way to achieve this is to provide an outlet for the region through Gwadar. The Chinese have agreed to take over the operation of Gwadar Port after the contract with the Singapore Port Authority expires in anticipation of this dream becoming a reality. China has stakes in a developed and prosperous Pakistan and is ready to help it grow. Is Pakistan ready to avail this opportunity and develop the capacity to take advantage of Chinese generosity? SECOND EDITORIAL: Attack on US Consulate staff Another day, another attack. An improvised explosive device (IED) struck two bulletproof Land Cruisers of the US Consulate staff in Peshawar on Friday, injuring 11 people and killing one passerby. Two consulate personnel suffered minor injuries in this first attack on US diplomats after the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. This comes in a sequence of similar attacks that have been taking place throughout the country since al Qaeda’s leader was killed, including against Saudi personnel in their Karachi consulate. It is feared that this is just the beginning as the extremists might be getting warmed up to fulfil their pledge of revenge against Pakistan, the US and other countries that had a part to play in bin Laden’s death. Other NATO countries too are on the terrorists’ hit list. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the Peshawar attack and have declared it retribution for bin Laden’s death at the hands of US Navy SEALs. When such a red alert situation exists in the country, it is shameful that adequate security measures are still lacking to prevent such attacks from taking place. Just as Osama was a high value target for the US, likewise, US, European, Saudi and even Pakistani citizens are high-value targets for the militants. To have foreign and our own citizens under threat on our shores and to be woefully unequipped to protect them is pathetic, to say the least. It is almost as if the security forces in Pakistan are too de-motivated in the face of a murky, bloodthirsty enemy. The area where this latest attack took place, University Town, is considered to be one of the more posh residential locations in Peshawar. It is a community where foreigners usually live. For a militant onslaught to take place there shows that even the most well-off of places is unsafe, what to say of the rest of the country. The security and law enforcement agencies have to get their act together. Our intelligence establishment cannot afford to fall asleep (again?) in the wake of the bin Laden episode and our police and security forces need better methods of detection and prevention. Arrangements must be made to better police the streets and allow citizens, whether international or local, to move about without incurring the risk of being blown to bits. * Home | Editorial

Book to Movie Comparison

The Beowulf legend has endured for centuries, having been retold time and time again. Dating back to the 8th century, this epic heroic poem employs many features that have long appealed to countless storytellers, authors, graphic novelists, and filmmakers. In Robert Zemeckis’s film Beowulf, modern technology allows a centuries-old story to be retold in a vivid, dynamic way. Still, in this day and age, it would be nearly impossible to translate a literal translation of the poem to the screen without making certain changes. Zemeckis’s film is no different. Some of these changes are obvious, while others remain curious diversions from the text.Whatever the case, each new retelling of Beowulf says as much about the time when it was created as it does about the narrative aspects that have survived throughout the centuries. Zemeckis, who has done similar experiments with computer-generated storytelling in his film The Polar Express, apparently believes that Beowulf is ripe fo r a contemporary facelift. While the actors and action are all animated, the technology is not the only thing that is advanced. The story has been updated as well, keeping some aspects intact while completely rewriting others.The film retains the complex family lineages and historical contexts that root the poem in reality. It also keeps most of the main characters (Beowulf, King Hrothgar, Grendel, Grendel’s mother) but explains their motivations in ways the poem did not. One of the major differences between the film and the original poem is the treatment of Grendel and Grendel’s mother; when Beowulf kills Grendel, the monster is reduced to a sniveling, frightened child. It is also worth noting that Beowulf fights Grendel in the nude, which is not described in the poem.The comparisons between Grendel and the Biblical Cain are completely thrown out as well, making Grendel more of a misunderstood Frankenstein’s monster than a true monster, ugly inside and out. The fifty-year gap between Beowulf visiting Grendel’s mother’s cave is also depicted in the film, whereas it is only alluded to in the poem. This allows the filmmakers to expand the poem into a feature-length film, in order to â€Å"fill in the gaps† with what they imagined occurred. This calls into question if Beowulf, who tells his story in the poem, is actually telling the truth.His relationship with Grendel’s mother is far different than in the story, wherein she is simply slain. Grendel’s mother is drawn as a strangely beautiful woman (Angelina Jolie) who seduces Beowulf. This change, like the others, is played for entertainment purposes. Like Beowulf’s physique, Grendel’s mother is his equal in physical form and advertising value. The film also makes a curious addition in that Hrothgar is the father of Grendel and Beowulf is the father of the dragon, which make sense in a Hollywood sort of way, but do not add anything new or powerf ul back to the original poem.These additions are simply to give characters more motivation, though it is difficult to say whether they gain any new depth. Most mentions of God and allusions to Biblical characters have been stripped away, despite the kingdom of Beowulf becoming Christian. It is as though Zemeckis has tried to make Beowulf as â€Å"un-literary† as possible. He has turned an epic poem into a comic book adventure. In many ways, the poem almost becomes secondary to the spectacle. Zemeckis desperately wants to render the world of Beowulf into one that fans of Lord of the Rings can identify with.The becomes more a springboard for special effects. The poem’s narrative is stretched so thin that it is impossible not to add to the original story, though the changes never add anything that matters. The story is sometimes as hollow and empty as the animated characters; it is all superficial. Beowulf never celebrates the poem as being truly great and proves that fil ms can never been grander than their source material. Works Cited Beowulf. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Perf. Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie. Paramount, 2007. Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York : W. W. Norton & Co. , 2001.

The Marketing Mix Matrix Essay Essay Example

The Marketing Mix Matrix Essay Essay Example The Marketing Mix Matrix Essay Essay The Marketing Mix Matrix Essay Essay In 2005. Chekitan Dev and Don Schultz introduced the client focused selling mix ( SIVA ) in Marketing Management. SIVA was presented as an alternate attack to McCarthy’s authoritative concern orientated selling mix popularly known as the 4Ps. SIVA and 4Ps are presented here as a complementary mechanisms to determine selling pattern through sing the demands of the client within the restraint of the organization’s capacity. To that terminal. we present a agency to unite the managerial focal point of the authoritative 4Ps with the client orientation of SIVA as the Marketing Mix Matrix. McCarthy ( 1960 ) suggested an enterpriser had entree to four key governable variables – merchandise. publicity. topographic point and monetary value – which could be adjusted to appeal to consumers for improved success in the market. Merchandise is the offer the enterpriser makes to the market that can be consumed to run into a demand. supply a solution or be used in the proce dure of making something else of value. Diverseness of signifier has been the trademark of the merchandise construct given that it incorporates physical goods. physically-orientated services that are performed on people or objects. intangible services including the cyberspace. intangible merchandises such as package or mp3s. experiences such as film and thoughts including advice. cognition or emotional results. Promotion refers to the entire array of deliberate communicating between the selling organisation and its clients. spouses or society through the usage of the promotional mix. Communication between client and market in publicity was traditionally unidirectional from the seller to the market until the Hoffmann and Novak ( 1996 ) computing machine mediated communicating theory. and societal media facilitated conversations between clients and companies. Topographic point refers to every mechanism involved in the coordination of a merchandise from the point of production to the point of ingestion. The logistical challenges of presenting intangible benefits to the client through embedded services. thoughts. digital merchandises or experiences has renewed involvement in the importance of topographic point in the selling mix. Price encapsulates the entire cost that the consumer has to bear in order to get. entree or utilize the merchandise including non fiscal and fiscal factor. Dev and Schultz ( 2005a. 2005b ) suggested a client focused alternate to McCarthy’s 4Ps attack with the SIVA mix. SIVA represents the four key determination influences from the consumer’s position and stands for Solution. Information. Value and Accessibility. Solution refers the value that the client creates by devouring the offer made by the organisation and acknowledges that persons actively consume merchandises and services in different ways. adding their ain reading and utilizations and accordingly become portion of the overall value creative activity procedure. Solution sees the complexness of the consumer’s needs as an chance to co-create customized results which means sing the universe from â€Å"What jobs can my merchandise work out? † instead than the outward focal point of â€Å"Who wants these characteristics? † Information represents the sum sum cognition the client has about the seller. selling offer and interactions with the selling house. It moves beyond the controlled selling messages emanating from the organisation. and includes the information derived from the customer’s anterior experience with the merchandise. the ascertained and communicated experiences of their online and offline societal webs plus any 3rd party information found through merchandise reappraisals. web logs and other beginnings. Value refers to the possible. existent and future cost of the solution and represents the entire forfeit the consumer will do in return for the package of benefits from the solution which incorporates the societal costs of clip. attempt. pride and repute in add-on to any pecuniary elements. Accessibility refers to the bringing of the promised solution at an acceptable cost by giving the clients what they want at a location that suits them in a clip frame that meets their demands. The focal point in handiness alterations the focal point of the supply and logistics channels to stress the points of entree that the client can utilize to get the solution.

Old Man and the Sea Essay Example

Old Man and the Sea Essay Example Old Man and the Sea Paper Old Man and the Sea Paper Essay Topic: For Whom the Bell Tolls The Old Man and the Sea Matthew Goodrich Mr Call 16,9, 2012 Old Man and The Sea Essay The Old Man and The Sea was one of the last great works of Ernest Hemingway and was written as a way to come to terms with his old age. A hero is defined as a man who is of distinguished courage or admired for his ability and brave deeds. The Old Man mirrors Hemingway’s ideal man, who is coming into his old age. Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21st 1899 and was an American author and journalist. His writing style was severely under rated. His adventurous life greatly influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his works during the 1920s and 50s. He wrote seven novels, six short stories, and two non-fiction works. Several books of his were published after death. Many of his works are considered American Classics in literature. The Old Man is a kind, confident and determined man. Although Santiago is old, he asserts himself through fishing by imbuing his acts with a brotherly love and a desire to remain stoic no matter his hard ships. While the Old Man lives in relative seclusion, he gives his life meaning through fishing. He creates this meaning by imbuing his work with a brutally intense focus. Santiago’s determination and perseverance that he infuses within the various tasks that he has before him helps Santiago accomplish his goals. Without his focus he would never have prevailed against the mako and shovel nosed sharks. This is apparent when during the night, Santiago awaits the next wave of sharks and begins to wonder, â€Å"what can I think of now? Nothing. I must think of nothing and wait for the next ones†[111]. Santiago’s focus facilitates the progress of his accomplishments; but also defines himself as a character and a code hero. Santiago is an accomplished fisherman with a great capacity for determination and passionate focus, which affirms his beliefs and breaths meaning into the chaotic world that he has been thrown into. The Old man has no next of kin and his only true friend is the boy, Manolin. This lack of outside relationships allows for Santiago to become more focused and determined. Which is the definitive aspect of Santiago as a human being and as a fisherman. This is most apparent when The Old Man states, â€Å"You were born to be a fisherman as the fish were born to be fish†[105]. While the old man is a focused and determined person he finds the balance between life and death in all of nature. He respects nature and treats every aspect of it with a brotherly compassion. Santiago respects the struggles of others, especially the struggle between man and beast. The respect that Santiago gives others is also filled with a burning compassion. While battling the marlin, The Old Man regularly refers to the fish as â€Å"brother† this shows a true sense of empathy towards his brother, the marlin. An Important factor in Santiago’s struggle is that he does not treat the marlin as a foe but as a comrade whom he must battle in order to survive. Although Santiago regrets that he must kill the noble marlin in order to survive. Battling the marlin brings Santiago great joy but he respects the fish’s desire to survive: â€Å"You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who† [92]. The marlin is a noble and powerful fish but Santiago finds beauty and grace in even those who seek to prey upon him. Although the shark preys upon Santiago, he still respects the shark’s powerful nature and speed. Santiago comments on his beauty and features similar to the marlin. Which is in stark contrast to the marlin. Respecting the balance between life and death is an important quality of Santiago’s as well as a code hero. The Old Man respects nature but also fills the world around him with his ideals and beliefs. Santiago remains stoic during tumultuous times. He finds himself remaining calm and treating his body as a tool rather a part of his self. While battling the marlin, The Old Man’s hand begins to cramp. He quickly reprimands his hand for failing him at such a pivotal point in his battle. Remaining detached is an important quality of Santiago’s as well as an important quality in Stoicism. Stoicism is a school of thought, which held the principles of logical thought, and allowed for destructive emotions and painful or primal feelings to be filtered out. Along with filtering out primal emotions stoicism requires intense focus and physical determination. After Santiago’s rest during the night, he pulls his hand from the sea to see if it had healed and he feels a searing pain in his hand and then tells himself that, â€Å"pain does not matter to a man†[84]. This defines the Old man’s entire struggle, the elimination of pain in the face of insurmountable odds. Many Hemingway heroes display stoic qualities such as Robert Jordan in Whom The Bell Tolls who fought in The Spanish Civil War on the republican side. The qualities of Santiago mirror that of many Hemingway heroes who represent Stoicism, Determination, and the respect of nature. Santiago is old and alone but he gives his life meaning through fishing and respecting nature, while remaining a stoic individual. The Old man affirms his beliefs and who he is as a person by focusing on fishing. He respects the natural world and equates nature to other human beings. Stoicism is an important quality of Santiago’s and helps him in his goals as a fisherman. Santiago is an important Hemingway hero and clearly represents all the aspirations and ideals of Ernest Hemingway.