»
Discussion
»
The Alley
»
Do Parents Who Take Life-Risking Jobs Deserve Kids?
| The Alley |
|
Do Parents Who Take Life-Risking Jobs Deserve Kids? |
|
Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
As I continue to read news about the tragic passing of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, I came across this just now, from the popular left-wing political blog Daily Kos (I often like to hop between Daily Kos, The Moderate Voice and Red State daily, which are popular left-wing, moderate and right-wing blogs respectively, just to get the flavor for what the varying opinion is on many issues), and this comment, at least to me, left me shaking my head. Here's what Markos himself said regarding Steve Irwin's fatal accident: * http://www.dailykos.com/ "Not political, I know. Irwin had two small children. I'll never understand parents who put themselves in such positions of danger knowing that a misstep can leave their children without a parent." * This comment really made me shake my head because, by his logic here, military people shouldn't have kids either, or anyone else who takes on a job whose life is often at risk, including police officers, firefighters, electricians, stunt performers, etc. Heck, there's always a risk as it is when a parent has her children in a automobile that could be a crash. It's rare, certainly, but still a possibility, and that shouldn't mean any adult who intends to drive shouldn't have children. Steve Irwin handled dangerous animals his whole life, and he wasn't a mere entertainer; he was teaching all kinds of people, especially young people, to see them as something worth preserving, to value them for the living things they are. He has been doing this since he was nine-years old, more than two decades before he became famous for it on his honeymoon in 1991 shooting the pilot episode for "The Crocodile Hunter" during it. He was well aware of the risks, and just happened to be a tragic victim in an ironic million-to-one kind of accident. I think Steve Irwin was an outstanding voice for animals and the environment, and respect what he devoted his life to. Some have every right to criticize him in that he may have been too "married" to his work, but I believe Markos' comment was a bit thoughtless and below the belt, especially given the timing it was written, when millions of fans like myself are still grieving. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
||
| © Copyright 2006 Nadia Lockheart - All Rights Reserved | |||
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Yes  |
||
|
iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Yes, I agree with Sharon. Interesting question, though, Noah. |
||
|
LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Noah, I can't agree with you more... Would I have done it, NO! But it was the way he was raised, and conditioned to believe...if you followed the reports, he said himself, his father thought he had an uncanny and mysterious almost spiritual connection with nature/animals...did he? Whose to judge? He believed he did...and who are we, to judge him...he did what he knew to be his best... We all make mistakes, some big ones, some not so big...(even with our children) we've all at one time or another as young parents done things that probably could have been considered wrong, or neglegent, or perhaps cared more about our jobs, then spending quality time with our children. but why oh why are people so quick to judge rather then simply execute some respect for the families of the one lost....instead of quickly assuming and making negative comments...??? He's gone...nothing will change that...and he died doing what he believed in...it was a tragic accident...oh my...simply tragic. We don't know until we walk in their shoes? Noah...God bless you for this thread and the other one and lets sleeping dogs lie. Markos' comment to me is unthinking and cruel. Hugs |
||
|
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Actually, if your quote from Markos is accurate, quote:he didn't say that parents SHOULDN'T take life-threatening positions. He said,"I'll never understand parents who put themselves in such positions of danger knowing that a misstep can leave their children without a parent." He may truly "never understand" it ... but he didn't infer that they shouldn't deserve kids~ I may not 'understand it' either, but it's not my call~ |
||
|
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Do parents who do drugs deserve kids? Do bigots deserve kids? Do alcoholics deserve kids? Does anyone deserve kids? I recognize the gist of the statement, but am not sure I understand the lack of understanding. Steve Irwin (& like) have what some may consider high-risk jobs, but, just like being an electrician, there are effective, proven ways to improve the potential for safety. Standing here this morning, I can argue that his accident was probably a lot less likely than my daily 1-1/2 hour commute turning me out into a fatal wreck. Flying through the air in a mechanized bird isn't all that safe, if you get down the actuality of what you're doing, but, with care and safeguards, we can and do make it a very safe method of travelling... doesn't mean that sometimes things can't happen. None of which, I must add in closing, points on iota toward someone's suitability as a parent. |
||
|
Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Awwwwwww, thanks for all your thoughtful comments here, everyone!  It could just be that I got oversensitive reading this given that I admired Steve Irwin very much, and I can also see Marge's point here in that a key word of the comment was "understand" so it could easily be interpreted as though Markos was not discouraging anyone who takes a job involving a risk, but just perhaps shakes his head at the naivety of all who do. All the same I still think the timing of which the comment was made was insensitive, and especially on a blog that deals with politics and such, though I believe bloggers have the right to say what they want, I also don't see why it was necessary for such a post to be made there. As an aside, I personally would NEVER ask that streaming video of my death, had it been filmed, would EVER be made public, as it would break my heart to imagine that video find its way to something like YouTube and my children could watch it again and again if they dared to and have to go through the grieving process all over again and miss me dearly in heartache. But I also understand there's many others who think differently than I do and while I disagree with Irwin's favor in sharing the video of his death when he dies, I certainly also never would stop someone from doing so. I just fear his children will get way too overemotional from it.  Sincerely, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
||
|
Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
Amen, Noah, Amen. I'm prejudiced of course, because my own field of work is the most dangerous mainline occupation....but the truth is very much on our side here. Life in the civilized portion of the world -- in almost any field of work or recreation -- is safer than it has been at any time in human history, and the pursuit of perfect safety is a fool's quest. If we ever became so totalitarian, I wonder which freedom we would choose to take away, the freedom to begin a family even though we might never finish it, or the freedom to choose a life we find exhilarating..... ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> |
||
|
LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
AMEN!!!!! |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
