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Dana (![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dana) wrote in ![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/community.gif){kind=small} fandom_wank,@ 2006-09-07 12:24:00 |
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Australians can be so amusing.
Irwin, ah yes. We've had wank in LJ, we've had wank on JF - you didn't think that high profile people weren't going to keep mum were you?
Germaine Greer, Australian writer, feminist (mostly in exile), and who is generally as popular as Irwin was (at one time) has decided to tell the world how she thinks about the 'Great Australian', in her trademark, understated, gentle way.
She writes about her feelings in the UK paper, The Guardian. You can find the whole thing here, it is quite cutting (and somewhat amusing, depending on your perspective).
Some choice quotes for the lazy or not interested:
Irwin was the real Crocodile Dundee, a great Australian, an ambassador for wildlife, a global phenomenon, a superhuman generator of merchandise, books, interactive video-games and action figures. The only creatures he couldn't dominate were parrots. A parrot once did its best to rip his nose off his face. Parrots are a lot smarter than crocodiles.
The only time Irwin ever seemed less than entirely lovable to his fans (as distinct from zoologists) was when he went into the Australia Zoo crocodile enclosure with his month-old baby son in one hand and a dead chicken in the other. For a second you didn't know which one he meant to feed to the crocodile. If the crocodile had been less depressed it might have made the decision for him.
There was not an animal he was not prepared to manhandle. Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress. Every snake badgered by Irwin was at a huge disadvantage, with only a single possible reaction to its terrifying situation, which was to strike. Easy enough to avoid, if you know what's coming. Even my cat knew that much.
Some snakes are described as aggressive, but, if you're a snake, unprovoked aggression doesn't make sense. Snakes on a plane only want to get off. But Irwin was an entertainer, a 21st-century version of a lion-tamer, with crocodiles instead of lions.
Howard is now Irwin's chief mourner, which is only fair, seeing that Irwin announced that Howard is the greatest leader the world has ever seen.
Ah politics. Greer ends her article:
The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn.
I know, too soon, too soon, is the expected response. Well you're right. Of course Australian politicians had to respond. Queensland Premier (the state where Irwin has his zoo and lived)*
"Germaine Greer is just wrong and I just can't imagine anyone being more insensitive and, frankly, stupid," he said.
"This argument is just extreme radical rubbish from Germaine Greer and it couldn't come at a more insensitive time.
"Any suggestion that he (Mr Irwin) mistreated animals is just rubbish ... he educated a generation."
Well, it's true, he did educate the world about Australian animals, I think both Greer and Beattie can agree on that.
Finally, the The Federal Opposition's Kevin Rudd
"Germaine Greer should just stick a sock in it" Yeah. That will tell her!
Whose betting on how, and when Greer will respond?
And we still haven't had the funeral.
*The elections are on Saturday, he has to say something, *and all fellow Queenslanders know what a media shy leader he is* < / sarcam>
Irwin, ah yes. We've had wank in LJ, we've had wank on JF - you didn't think that high profile people weren't going to keep mum were you?
Germaine Greer, Australian writer, feminist (mostly in exile), and who is generally as popular as Irwin was (at one time) has decided to tell the world how she thinks about the 'Great Australian', in her trademark, understated, gentle way.
She writes about her feelings in the UK paper, The Guardian. You can find the whole thing here, it is quite cutting (and somewhat amusing, depending on your perspective).
Some choice quotes for the lazy or not interested:
Irwin was the real Crocodile Dundee, a great Australian, an ambassador for wildlife, a global phenomenon, a superhuman generator of merchandise, books, interactive video-games and action figures. The only creatures he couldn't dominate were parrots. A parrot once did its best to rip his nose off his face. Parrots are a lot smarter than crocodiles.
The only time Irwin ever seemed less than entirely lovable to his fans (as distinct from zoologists) was when he went into the Australia Zoo crocodile enclosure with his month-old baby son in one hand and a dead chicken in the other. For a second you didn't know which one he meant to feed to the crocodile. If the crocodile had been less depressed it might have made the decision for him.
There was not an animal he was not prepared to manhandle. Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress. Every snake badgered by Irwin was at a huge disadvantage, with only a single possible reaction to its terrifying situation, which was to strike. Easy enough to avoid, if you know what's coming. Even my cat knew that much.
Some snakes are described as aggressive, but, if you're a snake, unprovoked aggression doesn't make sense. Snakes on a plane only want to get off. But Irwin was an entertainer, a 21st-century version of a lion-tamer, with crocodiles instead of lions.
Howard is now Irwin's chief mourner, which is only fair, seeing that Irwin announced that Howard is the greatest leader the world has ever seen.
Ah politics. Greer ends her article:
The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn.
I know, too soon, too soon, is the expected response. Well you're right. Of course Australian politicians had to respond. Queensland Premier (the state where Irwin has his zoo and lived)*
"Germaine Greer is just wrong and I just can't imagine anyone being more insensitive and, frankly, stupid," he said.
"This argument is just extreme radical rubbish from Germaine Greer and it couldn't come at a more insensitive time.
"Any suggestion that he (Mr Irwin) mistreated animals is just rubbish ... he educated a generation."
Well, it's true, he did educate the world about Australian animals, I think both Greer and Beattie can agree on that.
Finally, the The Federal Opposition's Kevin Rudd
"Germaine Greer should just stick a sock in it" Yeah. That will tell her!
Whose betting on how, and when Greer will respond?
And we still haven't had the funeral.
*The elections are on Saturday, he has to say something, *and all fellow Queenslanders know what a media shy leader he is* < / sarcam>
