Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter)

(Comments by Lee B. Y.)

Recently, I was told of the untimely death of Steve Irwin, better known as the "Crocodile Hunter". The irony of the news, besides the untimely death, of course, was the fact that he was not taken by the very animal that was on the top of his conservation list, a crocodile, but by a creature of the deep, a mantis ray, or sting ray as known by some.

Reflecting on the horrid news of a nature/animal conservative with much quick wits and reflex about him, I could not help but wonder if he took his risk a step too far. In the many documentaries that I saw with him in participation, he has taken calculated risks to liven a otherwise straight forward and factual documentary.

What is a calculated risk? To me, it is a risk taken with the view that the benefit outweighs the risks involved. But, how does one really measure "benefit" and "risk". Steve Irwin has an affinity with animals. He can approach and get closer to wild life than most humans can. He can laugh off a bite or an injury sustained during a daring act of rescue of a stranded and distraught beast when most would curse and scream for being attacked/injured. That takes a big and forgiving heart.

His actions led me to ponder on another question, how can one help others, be it man or beast, if he is not able to first help himself? My good friend, an accomplished economist and great lecturer, Vincent Seet, once gave this example to me.
"A man", he said, "who wants to help a fellow man in need, must first have the necessary resources to provide the assistance."

His words left a deep impression in me and till this day, I still ponder about the application of this example in the all areas besides the material realm. How much can I give? How much focus and consideration should I give for myself. At times, I seem to be torn and lost about how much I can or should give.

Here, years later, I’ve got a little pointer from another close friend and mentor, Ian Chung, who is also lectures extensively and expansively with a slant towards the language of the mind. Although he is more multi-disciplined especially in the area of the human psyche, he sees things in a different light from my other friend. An advice I picked up from this mentor of mine is, although similarly abstract, is as follows,
“Just do the best you can, as it is the thought, the will, the want, the desire to help that matters the most.” I was told, “this can and will drive the attempt, no matter how feeble it seems to you initially, to success!”

And to this, his good friend, also a good friend of mine, Andy Soh, adds, “it’s all about your good intentions. It’s all about the mind.”
Both these gentlemen agrees that we are all linked inexorably together, maybe this is why we are close friends.

Back to the departed proponent of nature, Steve Irwin, and all of nature’s creation, he has departed doing something he liked, fighting for a cause to which he, and I am with him, believe is a just cause, which is to protect all the living beings on this planet, not just his own, my own or the life of any person. We are part of the planet, part of nature, not it’s master nor creator, that is why other living creatures have an equal share to it as we do. “There is only one Earth, Save It or Perish”. For this spirit, I salute to Steve Irwin.

As to the queries I have mentioned in this article, to be prepared to give your life and sacrifice for a righteous cause you believe in or to take a small step back and live to help another the next moment, the decision is entirely in your hands, yours to make and never to look back one day with the slightest iota of regret.