From Merriam-Webster: champion : one that does battle for another’s rights or honor
I don’t know exactly when it happened, what with time zones and all, but today I learned that Steve Irwin has died.
What a tragic loss.
I’ve heard comments that sneered at giving him the title of environmentalist, that talked about what did he expect, living a life like that? It makes me want to bite someone.
Steve Irwin brought this incredible planet into our living rooms. That is an environmentalist. I remember once he took some time off saving the planet one beastie at a time, to go surfing with his best friend. They were coming up the beach and Steve dropped his board and dove into the underbrush, getting all scraped and beat up to show us a “beauty” of a poisonous snake. How could I not love and care about that snake? And the time he was in–Madagascar, was it? He was holding a chameleon, and that little bugger was biting the hell out of him. Steve was as tolerant and affectionate as if it were a baby gnawing gumless on his thumb.
Daredevil? Well, that rather depends on your point of view. Steve knew what he was doing. And what he was doing, was worth risking his life. I’m grateful that he believed that. The world could certainly use a few more people who think there is something more important than themselves in it.
Did you ever watch the Diaries, the show about life at the Australia Zoo? They would drop everything to go rescue a kangaroo on the freeway. To pull the most poisonous snake in the world out of a car engine and release it somewhere better for all concerned, especially the snake. If a staff member was badly hurt by an animal, the animal wasn’t blamed. It was just doing what animals do. The staff member, however–that person had to explain to Steve how they screwed up, and if he wasn’t satisfied, they didn’t work at Australia Zoo anymore. Steve loved people as well as animals, and he wasn’t going to let either party get hurt if he could help it.
He was taken far too soon, but at least it wasn’t one of his beloved crocodiles. I read Steve worried if that happened, that all people would remember about him was that they “always knew a croc would get him” and all his work would go up in smoke.
Steve–you will be missed. Terri, Bindi, Bob (jr and sr) I’m so very sorry.