*****
There had been speculation that video footage of his death – caught on camera as he was diving to make a documentary about Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef – could eventually end up on the internet.

The Queensland state coroner said the only remaining video tape had been given to Terri Irwin just before Christmas.

“The footage has been the subject of widespread media interest and it was wholly appropriate that we took all possible steps to ensure something of such a personal and tragic nature did not fall into the wrong hands,” Coroner Michael Barnes said in a statement.

“This is in line with the wishes of the Irwin family.”

Last year, Terri Irwin ruled out showing the video in a television interview, saying: “What purpose would that serve?”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6229757.stm?ls

Australian authorities last week said that they had completed an investigation into Irwin’s death and, to ensure it is never made public, destroyed all but one copy of a tape showing Irwin’s death.

The incident was captured by the documentary crew of “Ocean’s Deadliest”, the Discovery wildlife special Irwin was filming at the time of his death.

This video was handed to his widow, Terri Irwin, who told TV’s Access Hollywood in an interview being aired on Thursday and Friday this week that she had now destroyed this footage.

“There’s standard protocols for examining certain evidence and that’s no longer necessary,” she told Access Hollywood.

Asked whether she kept the video returned to her, she said, “Oh no, all footage has been destroyed.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailynews/3928199a1860.html
*****

If Terri Irwin was such a greedy media whore, she would had sold the video, yet she destroyed the last copy. This is one of the things that tell me than Bindi is allright.

Let’s not keep out of mind that being a parent is a tough job. There’s tons of persons out there who are good at laying blame on those who don’t raise their children right by some term dictated by them. Unless youu are a sick couple in Seattle trying to turn an mentaly inapt child into a living doll throught Nazi SS surgery, I don’t see how I can lay blame on them.

I don’t know Bindi Irwin. I don’t know her mother Terri Irwin. By this, I can’t lay a judgment on their attitudes and abilities surounding showbiz. What I know is that when Mrs Irwin saw that her child wasen’t griefing the lost of her father, she brought her to a shrink.

***
In an interview in The Australian Women’s Weekly to be published today, Mrs Irwin said she had taken eight-year-old Bindi and her two-year-old brother Bob to a psychologist.

“I don’t pretend to have all the answers,” Mrs Irwin said.

“I met with a psychologist and that’s been a tremendous help for me.

“I asked him if everything was OK, because Bindi has been so happy.

“And he said, ‘Why? Are you worried? That’s what you are shooting for. That’s what you want – a well-adjusted child who can handle a tragedy and see that life goes on’.”

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20796831-5008780,00.html
***

Let’s see it that way; do this is the reaction of a ballanced mother? I would say yes. The idea that she destroyed all the tapes containing the footage of her husband’s death is also a good thing.

Let’s give it a rest, Bindi is allright.

Just cause you Googled “Bindi” and got many hits only says that the rest of the swine may be heading over the cliff… I’ve learned through the years that having a contrary point of view is safer most times than being part of the current heading downstream…

Noone has yet to mention that perhaps, MOM has not had a sufficient time to grieve and perhaps she has been manipulated into allowing this and, even perhaps, Karen is right..their is a thinking adult parent that happens to be the Mother, who sees this as a way of allowing her daughter an outlet to live in a way that best resembles the life the kids previously had with their dad and mom. It certainly beats putting her kids in public schools, even if it is Australia…

Against my better judgment, I’m going to comment again since you all seem hell bent on continuing this discussion and dragging my name into it. I stopped contributing because it was off topic and I apologize to Paul Robert for being a part of the railroading.

My comments about this subject were:
“And THAT’S not sexist?”
“Of course, that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that 62% of married men have affairs.”
” So a woman should stay in the marriage when the man is having an affair?”

I never said woman don’t have affairs. I never said a man shouldn’t divorce a woman who is having an affair. I never even argued the fact that women initiate most of the divorces. It takes both partners to keep a marriage together. But I disagree with the comment ” The wholesale destruction of families, by mothers, is testament to that.”
I think there are too many variables in a marriage, in parenting, in life and in society to make such a blanket statement. I wouldn’t say that about a man or a woman. To have a discussion like this in an on-line forum is only fuel for a fire that never ends. People take words too literally or read into things that are not there. Add emotions and personal life experiences into that mix and we could argue points until the cows come home.

What I do think contributes to the destruction of families these days is lack of involvement and supervision in a child’s life and being too busy with “other things” ( whatever that may be ) to sit down each day and look your spouse in the eye and talk to them. ( and the children, for that matter ) It’s hard not to take life at 100mph. Life is more fast paced these days then it was 30 years ago. We have to slow down and connect.

And no,… roger,… I’m not voting for Shilary.

Again, my apologies to Robert Paul, this was never meant to be about me.

Back to the subject………..

But women also have affairs just as often as men. This would tend to make sense (who do men have affairs with?) Here’s a URL:
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/infidelitystats.html

For men, the consequences of a spouse having an extra-marital affair could include having to raise a child that’s not his. This happens more often than some people might think (a 1940’s study of births at a maternity ward showed a significant of the children being born didn’t match the father in a bloodtest.)

So Karen, if anything there is more reason for men to divorce due to extra-marital affairs on the part of their spouse than vice-versa.

The Sydney Morning Herald said:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/australia/bindi-irwin-wont-bump-bingle-off-ad-minister/2007/01/12/1168105150863.html

Bindi Irwin won’t be bumping Lara Bingle off as the face of Australian tourism any time soon.

News Ltd newspapers reported today that Tourism Minister Fran Bailey was to name the eight-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin as an ambassador for Australian tourism tomorrow.

Bindi is proving to be as popular in the US as her dad, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who was killed by a stingray last September.

But Ms Bailey said the government wouldn’t be signing her on for its tourism campaign.

”Bindi and her mother Terri are here in the United States helping to promote Australia as part of the G’Day USA campaign,” Ms Bailey told ABC Radio.

”But there is no role for Bindi in any advertising campaign.”

She is 8.

All her idea, I am supposed to suppose Karen? Everyone has fallen into line behind her ‘interests’? No-one pulling the strings?

It is EXPLOITATION. Its a FRIGGIN’ DISGRACE !

Karen said,
“So a woman should stay in the marriage when the man is having an affair?”

My question:
Similarly, should a man stay in the marriage when the woman is having an affair?

I dare venture to say that a majority of women can detect when a man is having an affair. While the majority of men don’t have a clue that the woman is carrying on behind his back. I Hope that isn’t a sexist statement Karen.

Karen said,
“Lots of cave man thinking going on here.
I’m out.”

In Karen’s own words:
“Give Terri Irwin the credit and respect of being first and foremost, Bindi’s mother. Trust her judgement. Bindi is her child and she will do what is in Bindi’s best interest.”

1. “Womanese” for Bindi is HER mother’s child and Bindi will do whatever she is told to do by Her mother. No matter how difficult it may be for the child!

Typically, all children want to please their parents.

2. “62% of married men have affairs.”

3. “As for Roger and MuchWiserNow, you seem to have a little chip on your shoulder about women.
Maybe you should get some therapy for that.”

4. “Oh, and by the way, I’m the parent of an 8 year old.”

Hmm!
Didn’t notice an (s) on the end of parent.
Example: My husband and I are parents of an eight year old child.

5. “You seem to be reading a lot into what I haven’t said.”

What Karen didn’t say:
(In reply to my questions)
Depending on how OUR son *felt about going to an archery range, target practice or the other activities mentioned, his DAD and I would talk it over with him about the pros and cons of his decision and support whatever decision OUR son made concerning the matter!

*”Begins to feel competent in skills and have preferences for some activities and subjects.”
(quoting from her bible of all-knowing professors)

Bye

Lots of cave man thinking going on here.

I’m out.”

Does this mean that Karen NOT be voting for Shillary?

So a woman should stay in the marriage when the man is having an affair?

Lots of cave man thinking going on here.

I’m out.

“”As for the “touchy feely” traits, I didn’t make them up. They’re from the Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University.
Challenge the professors who wrote them.”"

Now which shall I use, The Bow and Arrows (I am a State Champion) or the Gun? hahahahaha.

“Regarding questions 1-4.
1. No. And neither would his Dad.
2.No An neither would his Dad.
3 Yes
4 Yes

Happy?”

Karen,
Finally, an answer in a mature manner. You have my admiration. One last thing if I may. At the risk of further being accused of reading a lot into what you say, are you answering question 1 & 2 for DAD?

Have a pleasant evening!

Did I say he wasn’t?? You seem to be reading alot into what I haven’t said.
MOST of you here seem to be reading way more into what I haven’t said, then what I have.

As for the “touchy feely” traits, I didn’t make them up. They’re from the Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University.
Challenge the professors who wrote them.

Regarding questions 1-4.
1. No. And neither would his Dad.
2.No An neither would his Dad.
3 Yes
4 Yes

Happy?

Karen said,
“Obviously my thinking isn’t that illogical. You just proved my point.”

Karen,
Hmm! I’ve read your response several times and nowhere do I see an answer to my original question. Am I missing something?

You stated that “YOU” are the parent of an 8 year old young man. Is his DAD also the parent of that young man?

You’ve listed some “touchy-feely” traits of a typical 8 year old.

*can converse at an almost adult level
*reading may be a major interest
*seeks to understand the reasons for things
*begins to feel competent in skills and have preferences for some activities and subjects
*thinking is organized and logical

The real world:

1. Would you allow his DAD to take “YOUR” 8 year old to a rod & gun club in order to practice shooting a BB gun at various paper targets?

2. Would you allow his DAD to take “YOUR” 8 year old to an archery range to practice the lost art of shooting a bow and arrow?

3. Would you allow his DAD to take “YOUR” 8 year old camping, fishing and boating in the wilderness for an entire weekend alone in order for him to gain some boyhood companionship and bond with his DAD?

4. Would you allow his DAD to take “YOUR” 8 year old to a wrestling match or even participate in a wrestling match with other 8 year old boys?

Methinks your answers will display to everyone how logical your thinking happens to be. Oops! I almost forgot …attack, belittle and evade, instead of replying to questions in a mature manner.

“Your 8 year old is now building on the base of skills developed during early childhood and moving toward greater independence, both intellectually and emotionally.

Language and Thinking Development
*can converse at an almost adult level”

Little Bindi may converse at an almost adult level, only if her playmates are Britney Spears, Linsday Lohan and Paris Hilton.

There are decisions which an 8 year old is simply incapable of making. They have a primitive sense of how the world works. Their minds are developing with a huge way to go yet. Children need the protection of their parents, not free rein to make huge errors. Little mistakes are the ones we let them make and learn from, not life changing ones.

You make an arguement of sorts. Precisely to what end I can’t quite tell. I do hope you are not a teacher.

“Language and Thinking Development
*can converse at an almost adult level

- No they cannot. What sort of adults do you mix with for goodness sake? The inarticulate and dim?? Lift your game. An 8 year old talks at an 8 year old level.

*reading may be a major interest

-point being???

*seeks to understand the reasons for things

Sure, at an 8 y/o level. Relevance to business decisions and marketing of self, exploitation of public sentiment, does an 8 y/o even understand the basics and the moral parameters of such things??

*begins to feel competent in skills and have preferences for some activities and subjects

- ‘Feeling’ of ‘competence??? There are many adults I guess that have delusions of adequecy too. I think maybe you are included. I may be wrong of course. Show me.

*thinking is organized and logical

- Children’s grasp of logic is tiny. Their minds are very disorganised. You are giving far too much praise for very little. They can grasp some aspects of cause and effect but what has that to do with logic, Truth Tables? Most adults have to be taught logic at University. Perhaps you do not know the differences. At 8 their thinking is organized and logical only compared to a 4 y/o.

Bindi is having fun, I do not doubt. She is a delightful child. CHILD. She is being exploited and you see her having fun. Money is rolling in. She is dancing her little legs off. The greedy are raking in ill-gotten cash and she is singing her little head off. What has the fun got to do with it? Adults are calling the tune.

You challenge my knowledge of the Irwins. Steve and Terri were both quite vocal about their origins. I make no judgement, rather simply repeat what they have said of themselves. I do not have to have known them personally. They were modestly educated people with, on Steve’s part at least, a huge extraversion. Good on him too. They played to their adult strengths.

I am sexist for pointing to facts? Women have vaginas. Does my saying so make me a sexist? They have breasts. Is that a sexist statement too? They initiate the VAST MAJORITY of divorces which bring untold pain to families. Women destroy families with vasty more efficiency than men can achieve and vastly more often.

The betrayal of infidelity that you introduce as a straw-man (men are having it off with the next-door’s pet frog are they, not women??) is painful but considerably less than the betrayal of marriage vows and theft of the family. ‘In the best interests of their children’, for far too many women, is like killing all the villagers to save them from their enemies!

Obviously my thinking isn’t that illogical. You just proved my point.