Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter," was killed today when a Stingray he was following whacked him in the chest with its tail barb, puncturing his heart and killing him. While this is very sad - and many of us, me included, will miss the foolish little man - it was fairly predictable. He was a serial animal botherer, grabbing deadly snakes like Green Mambas by the tail while narrating into the camera, swimming in crocodile-infested waters, sticking his nose into holes known to be occupied by Komodo Dragons and the like - all the while telling us not to do the same, because it was really bloody dangerous. "Steve Irwin Killed by Wild Animal" is as predictable a death headline as "Hip Hop Artist Shot, Killed After Music Awards" or "Mountaineer Dies on Everest" It's what often happens when you do that kind of thing, and if you are engaged in that lifestyle, and can't see that the Reaper walks alongside you, then you are a fool.
People often don't think about their own mortality. I spent time as a soldier, now I race bikes, and I eat at sketchy barbecue and ethnic food joints. I also drive on the Beltway regularly. It is very human to say "it can't happen to me," but by God, it happens to somebody, every damn time.
There's nothing wrong with courting danger. You should be honest with yourself and others about the risk, and take steps to manage the risk. Steve Irwin - he who held Green Mambas by the tail, was tree-ed by a Komodo Dragon, and who swam with crocs and sharks - wasn't honest about the risk. Remember a few years ago when he walked his young (infant) son into a croc tank, and it seemed like he wasn't even cognizant of the danger? That's denial, folks. Learn to recognize it and avoid it.
In fact, I'll go one step further than saying there's nothing wrong with courting danger. Doing so with a dash of prudence is very human. Seeking to overcome risk and danger is perhaps the most noble (non-metaphysical) human endeavor, other than sacrificing yourself for another person. It is the very soul of life to be challenged, and to overcome. But we must be honest about the nature of our past times if we are going to take up the gauntlet of physical danger. It cheapens the overcoming, lessens the bravery, and makes a mockery out of the virtue of courage if we blunder into and out of danger. As they used to tell me when I wore a tree suit, there ain't no glory in being stupid.
You also owe a duty (that's a tough part of courage, you know - doing your duty) to your family and friends to know the risk, to be honest about it, and to prepare for the chance you might not make it back from the next ride, shark swim, or parachute jump. Keep your insurance paid up. Tell them you love them. Visit church once in a while and keep in The Man's good books, if you're so inclined. Live life to the absolute fullest, both on the side of doing your duty, and having fun.
But don't lie to yourself and tell yourself you are exceptional. You aren't. Although we know not the moment, we know that the reaper rides with us at all times, and while today may not be the day, tomorrow just might be. Accept it, be brave, and overcome, but like a good boy scout, be prepared. And for God's sake, don't swing Green Mambas around by the tail. That's just asking for it.
2 comments:
Jim, a few days ago you wrote: "Seeking to overcome risk and danger is perhaps the most noble (non-metaphysical) human endeavor, other than sacrificing yourself for another person. It is the very soul of life to be challenged, and to overcome."
I wonder: Why do you think this is true? I'm not saying you're wrong; I'm agnostic on that point. It's just that I've never been able to figure out what, exactly, this idea is based on, beyond a vague and romantic notion of immortality through heroism that is probably an elemental part of many human cultures.
I guess I'm curious because it seems a) to motivate a lot of people--including competitive cyclists--to do things that might otherwise be considered just plain dumb; and then b) to cause other people to hold those risk-takers in high esteem, often regardless of the costs and consequences of the risks they took.
Personally, I found a couple of Jon Krakauer's books (Into Thin Air and the one about the guy who holed up in a broken-down bus in the Alaskan wilderness) to be thoughtful explorations of this idea and the ways it plays out in real life. I suppose you could see the Pat Tillman story, and the falsified versions of his death, in a similar light.
So, how's that for a rainy Monday morning?
Jay, this merits further discussion. I'm may try to cobble together a blog entry about it.
Short answer - metaphysics, man & God, is, I believe, the big kahuna. In terms of the non-metaphysical, the significant things on which we can be judged are accomplishments, doing things - this is of course if you believe anything at all is measurable, i.e. there is some scale or some intrinsic worth in some things or acts, and we can get the measure of things.
So taking God out of the equation, you're left with what man does. At a basic level, we're animals. Eat, poop, reproduce, kill or be killed sometimes, sleep a lot... nothing special in that. We share lots of genetic material with most of the natural world. We all do that kind of animal stuff. What sets us apart is doing things that are a bit better or a bit of an improvement on our animal nature - man as the talking animal, the rational animal, the one animal that's really good at using tools. Building stuff is kind of a noble thing, the tool use and the striving is one of the things that defines us. So is a great piece of music - arranging noises in a regular fashion so they make something orderly but stirring - is well beyond the dolphins. It's an expression of the nub of our nature, not the 93% of our genes we share with the fruitfly, but an expression of our unique parts.
The highest expression of our uniqueness, I think, is when we overcome that animal reflex and do something very human. Now some animals fight pretty bravely when challenged. A lot of humans do, but ask any soldier who has seen a tough fight, they are likely to tell you that most guys just do what they have to do. I knew a Sergeant Major who was awarded a Medal of Honor for doing that - he went basically berserk in a night's worth of hand-to-hand combat and lived, killing many enemy soldiers. If you asked him about the MOH, he'd shrug and basically say he was cornered, he just did what came pretty naturally to him, he was modest about it and kind of sheepish about having been awarded that medal. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's not exactly a higher part of our nature to get the red rage on and go medieval on some folks.
In contrast, I knew a guy who ran to a burning armored vehicle, jumped in, and starting pulling out wounded troops. My friend was badly injured, but he saved a bunch of guys who would have died otherwise, and he was later well decorated for it. Over beers, my friend told me that he saw the thing get hit, thought about it for a second, knew he'd get burned, but then ran for it and started pulling guys out in spite of the danger. He was actually proud of what he did, a little embarassed to be awarded a medal, but proud of making a conscious choice. That is an example of a uniquely human aspect of man triumphing over the animal nature. A dog or a cat or horse usually flees from a fire - some dogs being an exception. Men, on the other hand, routinely run up the stairs in burning buildings knowing full well the danger. To me, this calculated risk taking, this bravery, is a distilled essence of the higher nature that sets man apart, that's why I appreciate it so much. It's also why I stress knowing risk taking, versus blind crazy courage.
As for racers - there are the guys who know what they are doing, know the risks, do it, and get rewarded. Then there are the guys who get the smell of blood in their nostrils like greyhounds after a rabbit, just peg it, and hope they make it through the turn. Both kinds of riders get rewarded if they come through with a win, but I think the state of mind, the mens rea, is important. If one imitates a tiger in a fight, that is spectacular; but it isn't quite as impressive to me as a man who knows the risks, but overcomes the urge to flee, in order to fight on. Flight is a natural human reaction too, at times.
That's my thought anyhow. I'm pretty much full of crap most of the time though, so please feel free to take it with a grain or six of salt.
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