Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin's passing and the resultant tsunami of global grieving, reminds us yet again, that what he had in bucket loads is what our (we in the developed countries at least) patriarchial, corporate-slick, consumer-obsessed, vacuous celebrity culture, have been slowly starved of and as a result, craving for,that is the Steve Irwin type GENUINENESS AND DECENCY.

No we don't need the following to give us our 'thrills/self-esteem/societal acceptance'

**6-pack body
**Mega car
**MacMansion and/or Prestigious 'DINK' Riverside Unit in the inevitable prestigious position
**3 Mortgages
**Work/Career (imbalance)
**Prestigious Stock and Shares Portfolio
**Multiple 'partners'
**Flexible 'marriages'
**Overseas (annual) jaunts

We've tried all these 'must-haves' and still our divorce rates skyrocket along with three-fold incidence of teenage psychosis (drug induced)mental illness and escalating suicide rates

Steve Irwin knew why he was a happy man. His family knew.

He was honourable.
He was guileless.
He was honest.
He was passionate.
He loved unconditionally.
He had the 'greater good' (ours and the vulnerable animals and their even more vulnerable habitats) at heart.

Of course he was human as well. But his mistakes were more than obliterated by his honourable and passionate character.

Thank God for Steve. May his untimely passing jolt us out or our self-absorbed myopia and remind us again of all that we are and can be as human beings.

Judith Sheeha

I am absolutely sick to death of all this hoopla about Steve Irwin - he was just a hyperactive kid writ large. He wasn't a saint.

Anyway, I have just been speaking to my old pal Doctor Doolittle and he reckons that that the stingray who gave Mr. Irwin his farewell barb is quite highly regarded by his fellows in the animal kingdom. Something along the lines of ... "Thank God, you spared us an encounter with that dork!"

I agree with you EnerGee; I live on the Sunshine Coast and I have rarely seen a bigger display of hoopla and hypocrisy...before his death, Steve Irwin was most certainly not universally loved. For goodness sake, the guy was just an ordinary human being, just like any other. Any untimely death, particularly of a husband and father, is sad and tragic, but why must we worship celebrities, as if they are somehow better and more worthy than you, or I, or Joe Bloggs down the street? And why should death elevate someone to godlike status? Even despite some negative media (or perhaps because of it); I thought the passing of Peter Brock was dealt with in a much more dignified manner. At least people knew him as a real person, flaws and all...that's how I would like to be remembered.

Am I the only person in Australia who can think of absolutely nothing to say about Steve Irwin, other than Rest In Peace?

Mercurius - i'm with you. It all seems a bit pathetic that millions around the world feel obliged to mourn the passing of Steve Irwin for days/weeks on end. What is the point of carrying on once someone, celebrity or not, has died? Why don't we appreciate those we admire and respect while they are alive and remember what they have taught us once they die?

The actual process of grieving seems a little self-indulgent - it plays no purpose and only continues, as far as I can tell, because of the socially accepted norm that if someone dies we must spend a reasonable amount of time mourning. While i am yet to experience somone close to me dying - in my current frame of mind I feel certain I would not fulfil the stereotype - much to the dismay of those who thrive on offering pointless words of condolence and those that seem to compete with each other to out-do their grieving efforts. I am sure i would seem cold/heartless to those around me. Leaving myself open to the 'young and stupid'comeback...

Ahh the good old knockers.
I live in London and sure it irked me a bit every time a Brit compared us all to Steve but I have seen the smile he has put on peoples faces and how he has made 'em look at crocs and all animals in a positive way. Aussies too for that matter.
Now that can not be a bad thing can it?