Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Crikey, She's a Beaut!

A national day of mourning has descended upon the continent of Australia, heads bowed for the death of Steve Irwin - AKA, the Crocodile Hunter. The Prime Minister has promised a state funeral and appropriately called him an 'extraordinary man'. The tele is filled with nothing but Irwin clips of him handling various snakes and reptiles over the years.

Peggy and I went to see David Suzuki last night with some friends and were goaded into a moment of silence for the tragic and untimely death of Steve Irwin. Now, I've been criticized as being un-empathetic in my demeanor, but Irwin's death was neither tragic nor untimely. I feel sad that he has left behind a family, but also think that he got what was coming to him for years on end. The man danced with death for a living, how could it not be expected that one day his antics would come back to 'bite' him?

When our relatives visited a few months back, we went diving off a similar reef out of Port Douglas, where Irwin was killed. There were never any overt warnings about stingrays and how they are potentially harmful. Yes, people have gotten stung on the ankle or leg when descending upon rays lying on the bottom - but never were they deemed life threatening. Irwin must have been handling this ray in a pretty aggressive manner to have it pierce his heart, as opposed to a mere mandible. Video footage of the attack exists, but I don't care to watch.

So, we bid you adieu Crocodile Hunter, for you died doing what you love - indeed an admirable quality. Will the same be said for Paul Hogan or Greg Norman?

posted by ncawthon at 4:50 PM