Posted on 09/05/2006 9:05:46 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
R.I.P: Steve Irwin's body isn't yet cold and already the Pecksniffs are out, tut-tutting the late crocodile hunter's risky encounters with wild beasts. They miss the point: Irwin's life was about enriching humans.
Irwin, who died over the weekend after a freak attack by a stingray, did not live a riskless life. In fact, for those who've watched his Animal Planet shows, some wonder why a fatal encounter hadn't happened earlier. But it's indisputable that he mastered nature with a rare talent — a talent that took him to the edge of possibility. For the sake of the rest of us, he shared his gift.
Exclaiming "crikey!" Irwin wrassled gators, handled snakes and got close to creatures with sharp teeth, riveting us all with his sunny confidence reminiscent of the pith-helmet British empire era.
He seemed to defy the barrier of television. "When I talk to the camera, mate, it's not like I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you because I want to whip you around and plunk you right there with me," he once said.
Maybe that's why the scolds came crawling out of their cubicles, all but saying Irwin had it coming. Irwin's success seemed to have made them sick to the green gills. Now they stand on his grave and claim to have the last word.
Two classes of critics have shown up in Irwin's case, galled by his distinctly Australian enthusiasm and his brawny persona.
Some are safety-firsters who say no one should touch nature because it's just too risky. Others are cognoscente of sorts who say no one should go near nature because all human contact will spoil it.
On Internet sites like Daily Kos, for instance, the local consensus was to condemn Irwin for taking chances, something almost as "bad" as soldiers
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
I have been thinking about this for a few days. Especially with some of the other posters who question his parenting skills. It occured to me that he probably spent more time and gave more attention to his children than many parents do, just because he didn't have the typical 9-5 type of job.
One thing I can mention is that Steve Irwin certainly fulfilled his purpose in life. I have a 12 year old son who was looking forward to turning 13 so he could volunteer at our local zoo. (although they seem to have changed that program in the last few years) Either way, my son wants to work with animals (not like "I want to be a veterinarian" either. ) I wonder how many other kids want to do the same because they were inspired by Steve.
Yep,
another posting from a "Dried Pea Soul".
It's because God has set eternity in the hearts and minds of men.
"Stingrays are not dangerous or deadly."
Keep repeating that if it makes you feel good.
At least he was a faithful hubby.
Very, very well said.
I'll say this here too: Anyone who makes fun of this kind good man's death can kiss my ardvark.
I did too. He had the most endearing ways, he just drew you in to the show. And I don't even really care much for reptiles. Well, I didn't, but, thanks to him, I have a new perspective on them and appreciation for them. That's what he did.
I recently read this quote from his wife, Terri, taped a month ago: Says Terri, “My husband has a unique ability to jump through the TV screen and into your lounge room. He grabs you and drags you into the wild so you share his wonder and excitement. ”
And he really did, he was one of a kind.
Nor does anyone else ... Life IS risk, from the moment we're conceived, to being dragged kicking and screaming from the presumptive 'safety' of our mothers' wombs, to the moment we will all inevitably die. Everything we do is 'risky' ... some choose to face and embrace life and its risks. Others tiptoe through life cowering in fear of their own shadows. Either way, we're all doomed to die.
Decrying the provocation of dangerous and deadly animals in order to get good video is hardly the same as decrying the "touching of nature because its too risky."
Touch nature all you want.
But when you die because you touch it too much and in very risky ways then the foolishness of that touching is painfully obvious.
And to hear people then praise such foolishness as if it were a good thing is too much too bear in silence.
This guy's cheap thrills for the camera eventually killed him. His death should serve as a warning not to be so foolish. Instead we have people acting as if his death by animal was unexpected and a big crying shame.
A nice human being with a family died. And it was by taking a totally avoiable risk that he died. And the kids won't know their dad as they grow up. Hopefully some people headed for similar fates will learn that thrill seeking is not all its cracked up to be and quit {fill in whatever dangerous habit here} before its too late.
"Yes, they REALLY lived ..."
Wow, Great post!
I never said that in the first place, so I have no reason to repeat it.
Where are your facts and statistics?
Stingray deaths rare and agonizing
Injuries caused by stingrays are relatively common but fatalities are extremely rare, with experts saying there are only one or two known cases in recorded Australian history.
You're either grossly misinformed or a pathetic shell of a human being. Or perhaps both.
Irwin didn't "touch" anything before his death. He was killed by a freak accident of nature, one which has been known to have happened *three times* in Australian medical history (e.g., by a stingray). The stingray approached him from the bottom, he was not "touching" it.
In the 29 days before his death, "foolish" Irwin personally tagged 49 crocodiles for a "foolish" Aussie conservation program, said to be a probable world record in the "fooish" conservation community.
Note that he was not "foolishly" killed by a crocodile.
That describes many people.
The lesson of a life like Irwin's isn't that we should all go out and live like Indiana Jones or some superhero, but that we should take whatever chances we are afraid to take in order to live the lives we desire, and not just settle, not just take what comes to us but to go out and get what we want. I'm not a believer, but it seems to me God wouldn't be saying "I'm so glad you sat on your ass for the 75 years you were alive" but "What took you so long to get here, didn't you take any risks at all?"
"He was a fool - but an entertaining fool. Shame he killed himself so young."
A fool? He was making $14 million a year from his businesses.
Killed himself? Getting hit by a stingray is one of the more freakish and unlikely accidents out there.
There's plenty more dementia in your pathetic little screed, but I'll just leave it at that.
You're obviously not 1/10th the man as Irwin, and you're not even ashamed of it!
Pwned!
I was thinking of a way to describe that post, but couldn't find the words for that much ignorance, so I left it alone figuring another FReeper who's better with words would handle it. "Pathetic little screed" nailed it. GG, FRiend.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.