Posted on 09/05/2006 11:50:27 AM PDT by stm
So does that mean that Nicole Kidman will get one too?
I remember that episode.....Dragon Pooo!
What's wrong with that? Heston was out in front...
Just watched a repeat of his show the other day where he was in India or some such with the snake charmers and the organ-grinder type monkeys. He made a point to tell the tv audience how the animals are treated and to please not stop and watch or give money since it only encourages the practice. You could tell it pained him to see them treated so poorly.
He maybe did some dumb stunts, but overall he taught responsible animal care and conservation. His shows were all about education and appreciation. Plus he had a great gusto that was infectious.
He wasn't some guy faking it in a movie, he was quite different and nothing wrong with Australia honoring him as a beloved son.
Rest in Peace, Steve...
"I guess I'm in the minority in thinking that giving him a state funeral isn't appropriate."
Not really. I'm with you on that. I've watched a few of his shows, and wasn't that impressed. But that's just me. I'm sure he was very popular with lots of people, but I think a state funeral is a little over the top.
Only the Aussies know.
It was an official Navy burial-at-sea, conducted on the USS Briscoe.
From an article I just Googled:
At the funeral ceremony off Massachusetts, there was an honour guard of sailors dressed in white.
Two navy chaplains and a Roman Catholic priest performed a simple ceremony before the ashes and three wreaths with red, yellow and white flowers were cast into the waves.
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Boats and helicopters were ordered to stay three miles away from the Briscoe during the proceedings.
Mr Kennedy never served in the military, but US regulations allow the navy to authorise burials at sea in the case of "an outstanding contribution to society".
It's the "outstanding contribution to society" I had a problem with.
What was his outstanding contribution to society? The Little John-John salute?
No offense to a fine young man, JFK, Jr., but we all know why he was given the big send-off.
>>Amen. Irwin was what Americans used to be. <<
Nobody's criticing Steve Irwin for doing what he wanted to do with his life. But to hold a baby in one hand and feed a giant croc with the other was just plain...dare I say it...negligent.
But if that is your idea of A Wonderful and Brave Act, to each his own.
>>My dad shot a rifle straight into the air to try to settle an argument about ballistics,<<
Was there alcohol involved, or is your dad just not very smart?
So? Any veteran can request a burial at sea. We used to commit someones ashes almost every time we left port. Every one was due an honor guard in dress uniform, too. The fact that Clinton let them dump JFK, Jr. over the side of a Navy destroyer doesn't make it a state funeral. Look back at what Reagan received to understand what is a state funeral and what isn't.
I don't have a problem with Steve Irwin having a state funeral in Australia. Australia the kind of country where if Steve made it to the hospital, someone else would have volunteered to give him their heart, so he could have lived. My problem is with all the hollywood phonies that show up for photo ops without really helping anyone.
It's a great tragedy that a young father was killed in a freak accident. Australian kids lose a folk hero who actually risked something other than a stuntman's life.
I really liked it when he came to Florida to help clean the snakes out of the training area for Ranger School. His craziness even impressed the Ranger Instructors. That's saying something.
In his brief tenure on earth, Steve Irwin accomplished more than any of the phony "what country should we go to next to be photographed" actors combined. If Austrailia wants to give him a state funeral for his accomplishments, I think it's great. It's between his family and Australia. If Terri wants it, so be it.
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