I am very sad about Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. There was a man that truly believed in what he was doing, even at the time of his death. I feel the greatest of sympathy for his wife and remaining family. I am sure he filled up their home with love even more than he filled up our televison screens with excitement.
Many people have been making comments about the manner of Steve's death. I have heard them all day. When you live your life like Steve did, you made a trade off. You exchanged the security of knowing you would live a long healthy life for the excitement and adrenaline that you felt when you were around those creatures that made life so important. That was his choice and by making that choice, we were allowed into his fantastic world full of snakes and sharks, crocs and rays, wild animals of all kinds in a way that no other wildlife enthusiast had even done. Steve educated people about animals in the wild and provided entertainment to many people, young and old alike.
I don't think of Steve Irwin as courageous. The soldiers in Iraq are brave. It takes courage to stand up to the enemy, even when you know you are not doing anything to change the enemy's perception of your country. It takes courage to disagree with the status quo and speak up for American people who do not have a voice because they do not own stock or have major medical insurance. It takes courage to hold your head up and work two or three jobs because you are a single parent and the money has to come from somewhere. Steve Irwin was not courageous.
Steve Irwin was fearless. Putting yourself in harms way in order to educate others was a fearless act and Steve did it time after time and he would have it no other way. He lived his life on his own terms. Enthusiastic, passionate, energetic and, "Crikey!" so entertaining....fear was never a part of what he brought to our table. Steve may never have run for a position in the government of Australia, but he served people with his spirit just the same.
