Oh, how sad...
Steve Irwin's been killed while filming a documentary in Australia.The first time I read this, on the main page of Yahoo, when it was still saying "reportedly killed", it surprised me so much that I jerked, pretty hard, and knocked my keyboard off my desk. I thought for sure it was going to be one of those stories that show up on Snopes as a hoax
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That sounds like a great tribute! I think I'll get teary when I hear that song now, because I think I'll associate it with him. I've gotten teary a couple of times, mainly last night when they were showing a couple of the shows on Animal Planet that were more about him and his family and less about the animals. You could just see how much he loved his family and how much they loved him, and it's just so sad.
He was such a passionate guy -- my friend and I were talking about it earlier tonight. He truly felt passionate about wildlife and conservation, and he never, ever hid it, and there are so few people these days that are that open and unflinching about their beliefs. It's so rare. He really will be missed.
And I'm actually a little bit glad to hear from an Australian who's a bit saddened by the news. Most of the Australians I've seen on other boards were mostly embarrassed by him, and they've been... rather mean. It makes me even sadder. It's one thing to disagree with the man when he's alive, but come on... let his family and those who loved him, or even just enjoyed his work, mourn in peace.
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I yelled at the t.v., "I'm BLOODY HAPPY about it!" for them when they asked the co-workers how they felt.
Terri and the kids had the Reptile park closed for a few hours to wander around and remember him, and then they opened it to the public. One of the rangers said that Steve would want them to open regardless. *sniff* The flowers and busloads of people are amazing. The Australian Zoo is down the hill from where my sister in law lives, we drive past all the time when we visit her.
And I'm actually a little bit glad to hear from an Australian who's a bit saddened by the news. Most of the Australians I've seen on other boards were mostly embarrassed by him, and they've been... rather mean. It makes me even sadder.
Funny you should say that. I am a NZer living in Australia, am Australian now, and yesterday a Kiwi announcer who is also now an Aussie, said on the Today show that the Americans fell in love with Steve Irwin long before the Australians did because they were embarrassed by his manner and thought that he was faking and overdoing his exuberance. Then when he became famous, and it appeared the rest of the world loved him, they came on board. To be fair, his good works and wildlife refuges have been inspiring. Apparently he has personally bought up 40,000 hectares of bushland to be turned into wildlife sanctuaries. All his money has gone into his love of nature. He was always a pleasure to watch and he made me laugh. He will be missed and everyone is feeling sad about his death.
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I know that Discovery Communications is establishing a fund in his honor -- as well they should, I think he pretty much made their Animal Planet channel -- and they are renaming the gardens in front of their headquarters after him. Those are both pretty nice gestures, I think.
...they were embarrassed by his manner and thought that he was faking and overdoing his exuberance.
I think that it was pretty easy to think that the first couple of times you watched him. It was like, "Okay, there's no way this guy's not fake. Nobody is that enthusiastic all the time."
But the more you watched him, the more you saw the way his family and those close to him talked about him, the easier it was to see. He was just full-out, 100 miles an hour, totally passionate all the time. And after a while, it's hard not to respond to that.
Plus, I know that one of my online friends' story of a Huntsman spider jumping onto her face (while she was 8 1/2 months pregnant, no less) did worse PR for tourism in Australia than anything Steve Irwin ever said or did! I still shudder when I think of that story.
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Well, rest easy, the family have turned down the State Funeral as Steve wouldn't want that. He was a simple man of simple tastes. The Federal govt have offered a Memorial service in 6? weeks I think, gives time for anyone overseas to attend. I think that is a better idea.
But the more you watched him, the more you saw the way his family and those close to him talked about him, the easier it was to see. He was just full-out, 100 miles an hour, totally passionate all the time. And after a while, it's hard not to respond to that.
Yeah, that is why it is a crying shame that he is dead. He was so passionate. His friend and manager, John, was on the telly last night talking about him and when the typical media question, "how did you feel?" came up, he said, "Like my world ended." *sob* He was with him in the boat when it happened.
Plus, I know that one of my online friends' story of a Huntsman spider jumping onto her face (while she was 8 1/2 months pregnant, no less) did worse PR for tourism in Australia than anything Steve Irwin ever said or did! I still shudder when I think of that story.
OMG! That would frighten anybody. But did she really put off that many people? How many read her journal? The Huntsman look scary but they are not. One fell from the sun-visor in a friend's car, when she pulled it down because of glare, she ran off the road and hit a telegraph pole. The insurance paid up because it was a valid excuse. :0)
Germaine Greer, who now lives in London, has said some unkind things about him since his death and is now so vilified by the Aussies I don't think she dare come home. *snort*
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