Crikey!

[winter_elf]

Steve Irwin, you will be missed.


Photo Credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Extremely sad to hear of the death of one of the great animal lovers of this age. I love wildlife, but I'm not going around calling crocodiles 'beautiful'. He loved animals of all types, sizes and temperaments, and through that love - showed us a whole new world.

Back in 2005, on a LOTR tour of New Zealand, about 1/3 of the tour was Australians. I and the other Americans on the same tour were asked 'why do you like Steve Irwin?'. My answer was the same now as it was them - because he loved the animals, and no matter how showmanship or outrageous he got, it was all about his love for the animals. I was given the impression they were embarrassed by him. I can't understand why, and I only hope now, that they understand WHAT he stood for.

Comments

[the-impassive.livejournal.com]

I agree. Even when he was over-the-top, it was clear that his enthusiasm and respect for wildlife of all kinds were genuine and constant. I'm truly sad that he's gone.

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

amen

[april-art.livejournal.com]

I gather that many Australians thought he was a bit of an embarrassment as a representative of their country and people. It would be like... maybe... if some really down-home outrageously off-the-wall cowboy-type was a huge celebrity all over the world and everyone overseas thought all Americans were like that.

I think they probably wouldn't have minded if there were celebrity Australians around to represent themselves to the world... But really, I think there ARE enough Aussies so that the rest of us don't think everyone over there is a Steve Irwin clone! Maybe they were being just a bit too worried over nothing?

Anyway--I'm sure they weren't ashamed of Steve Irwin's message.

I thought Irwin was a bit too much sometimes, myself, but I did admire his enthusiasm and his passion for life--and for animals and everything!

I've been pretty depressed about Steve Irwin's untimely death. It's just sad to see someone so much larger than life reveal how mortal we all are...

And of course I feel so sorry for his family and friends.

And I'll miss him, like everyone else... miss his crazy antics on tv... and mostly miss all his incredible enthusiasm. I didn't like all his playing about with wild animals. But I loved his passion for them. He was just amazing! You just knew he had a great and good heart!

So sad!!!

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

It was his love of the animals that made him watchable, even when outrageous. I've seen some of the 'copy cats' shows, and they just don't hold my attention. The love for animals in any form just doesn't show through, they are only doing a script or for the camera, not for the animal.