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09/04/06
For years I have meant to write a blog post about Steve Irwin (AKA The Crocodile Hunter). I wanted to explain in my post how Irwin is my hero, and how I see him as one of the few people I have never met, but still feel a connection to. I wish I would have done it sooner, of course. Now it seems a little odd, considering that every other blog out there is writing about him.
I figured out a long time ago that there are three elements that I wanted to have in my career:
1. Do something I like.
2. Be one of the best in the world at it.
3. Have that something make a difference in the world.
I know that hitting 1, 2, and 3 together is very difficult. I know that it will probably have to wait until later in life for me to be doing all three. So I’ve settled for 1 and 2, and flirted with 3 for a while.
When I first saw Steve Irwin on TV, I found him very entertaining. What a great new way to do animal documentaries. No more of that stuffy narrated wildlife footage. He was getting into the action and making it real for the viewers.
After a while I grew more curious about the Crocodile Hunter and began to learn more. Low and behold I found a man who had all three elements outlined above. Irwin obviously loved his work. And he was recognized as one of the best in the world. And, his work was making a difference.
What Irwin did was to make people feel connected to nature. He wasn’t just teaching you wildlife conservation, he was showing you it in action. He was a part of it. Teachers teach and doers do, but here was a guy doing both at the same time.
I never much cared for any environmental issues. I hear neighbors talk about recycling, and I think of the huge fume-spewing recycling trucks crawling up our alley every week and the extra tax bills that pay for them. I wonder what the truth is in all the environmental fights.
I used to feel ambivalent about wildlife conservation too. Until someone explained it to me. Irwin did, through the TV. I’ve seen some of his episodes so many times I feel like I was there with him, moving crocodiles away from population, rebuilding zoos and helping injured animals hurt by the expansion of civilization.
But what most affected me was the way Irwin lived his life. He loved what he did, he did it well, and he made a difference. And he showed that you can have fun while doing it. He traveled, met people, had great experiences, started a family, saw his dreams come true.
The world has lost a leader in wildlife conservation. His family has lost a husband and a father. And many others like myself have lost a hero. Even though he is gone I know we will continue to be inspired by him. Thank you Steve.
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September 5th, 2006 at 12:33 am
Gary.
I agree. I”m living in Australia myself, so it is big news here.
I was surprised how much his death actually affected people I’ve talked to. I think he was one of those larger than life people that REALLY enjoyed living. He was genuinely passionate for what he did, and I think (like him or not) that it has to rub off in some way when you see someone like that. I’m not trying to make a joke in saying he was almost like Diana in regards to people feeling connected / affected.
For some reason, I always expected to see/hear his goofy character on tv doing something crazy.
He will be missed.
September 7th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Steve Irwin was an incredible man! I have always had a passion for wildlife & all animals & he really, really cared about them too and to me that made him a very special man indeed.
September 13th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
That was an excellent blog remember him. Thanks! I was always scared that one day this would happen because of what he did. He is a hero because he did what no one else would do. I didn’t follow him much but I always admired him from a distance.
September 14th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Landfills, man. Recycling — unless you have some scam artist waste disposal people — can make a big difference in the amount of space needed for landfills. We actually create more recyclable waste in our household than we do actual garbage (and Portland now allows vegetable kitchen scraps to be folded into yard debris). Once you’ve taken out the metal, paper, newsprint, and glass for recycling, how much are you throwing away? Of course, I don’t know what Denver’s recycling program is like.
BTW, Terri Irwin was from my hometown of Eugene.