I LOVED Steve Irwin...hardly missed a show..one of the few things I would watch on tv...though I'm glad that his legacy will live on, etc...this is an EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILD! That would be like if Cilla had put Lisa in the spotlight after her father's passing...I just don't think it's right and how much does an 8 yr. old really know what they want to do in life????? JMHO

Bindi Irwin to continue father's legacy By FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jan 19, 6:06 PM ET



WASHINGTON - Bindi Irwin is ready to continue her famous father's work spreading the wonder of wildlife.

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"I'm going to become a wildlife warrior just like he was," 8-year-old Bindi, daughter of the late Steve Irwin, told an audience Friday at Washington's National Press Club.

Five months after Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray, Bindi and her mother Terri are touring the United States to promote Bindi's upcoming television series.

Asked Friday if the attention was too much too soon, Terri said that Bindi told her after Steve's death that she wanted to get back to filming wildlife shows as soon as possible.

"Grief is a road that each individual travels in their own way," Terri said, her daughter by her side. "For us to get right back up and be able to say that Steve's work counted for something" has been a help to the Irwin family and others.

Steve Irwin was killed in September after a stingray's barb stabbed him in the chest during the filming of a documentary. Authorities have handed over the video of Irwin's death to his family; Terri has said the family destroyed the footage.

As proof of her commitment to her father's work, Bindi cheerfully described some of the world's most ferocious animals as "so sweet and gentle," praising crocodiles as "such great mothers" and snakes as "just gorgeous."

Bindi, who has appeared on several entertainment and news shows while in America, was asked how she compared snakes and reporters: "I really think I like poisonous snakes," she answered, grinning for the dozens of assembled cameras and journalists.

I have to respectufully disagree with you on this Suzana. I was and continue to be a huge follower of Steve and all the Irwins. Bindi has been in front of the cameras since she was two weeks old with her moma and dad. It is as normal for her as a kind that takes up soccer or some other sport that they truly love and enjoy. She has inherited her father absolute passion for animals. She hasn't had a childhood like most. She has grown up in a zoo! So what may not seem the norm to us for most eight year olds IS completely the norm for her! As Terri said in a recent interview. They did absolutely nothing for weeks after Steve's death. Bindi is the one who came to her and asked when they could start filming again. She loves singing and dancing and she loves getting the message out about wildlife conservation. It has been instilled in her since the day she was born. Terri and her manager John Stainton have said numerous times that if Bindi were to say to them "I want to stop the filming I want to stop the singing and dancing" they would stop in a heartbeat! This is what SHE wants to do and I think it is wonderful that she is able to do it!

I think maybe this is Bindi way of grieving ..
We all grieve in different ways ...

I think it's wonderful that Bindi wants to continue what her father has started .

If you have heard Bindi talk you can see she is very intelligent for her age ..

Here is a video of an interview with Terri and Bindi that may help you o understand a bit better. If you have doubts. It's as Terri says in the interview. It's like if a child went fishing every weekend with their dad and then he died and you were told you would never be able to go fishing ever again!

The Interview is in two parts!

Part 1: http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=3B4A3453-1...848BCCA10&f=&fg=copy

Part 2: http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=2B77521C-3...0181B0FB3&f=&fg=copy

Thanks TX..
I never seen that before ...
Very touching

You are most welcome!

i saw bindi and teri on larry king live and bindi is an amazing child. at first i was concerned, like suzana, about bindi being used for promotional purposes, but when i saw her talking to larry so confident and poised, knowledgable and articulate, and even breaking into a little song (w/o music to guide her), that child is amazingly talented. she's so comfy with what she's doing, and she said she's not afraid of any animal, so tx pixies has a good point, it's just so normal for her to be in front of the camera and with the animals, she doesn't know any different. she said she wants to be in tv when she grows up too, and keep her father's legacy growing... 'our crazy man' has been one of my whole spread out family's fave for soo long, and i'm thrilled bindi wants to keep spreading the word of her dad, but as a mother, i'll keep my eye on her. maybe this is her way of grieving, letting it out... teri said on the show that she was a bit concerned bindi wasn't as openly devastated as she was, so she talked to counselors about it, so maybe this is bindi's way... (i hate being 'blessed' with the curse of seeing both sides of every coin, i never know how to decide anything for myself.)

We ea. have our opinion's TX_Pixies.
I have seen her and I do agree, I'm not knocking the child but to me she's just that a child...yes it's wonderful that she's following in dad's footsteps, but again we're talking about an 8 yr. old..not 16 or even 12...yes she's talented...she has her dad's way about her...but still she is JUST A CHILD...did u know what u wanted to do @ 8? If so are u doing it now as an adult?...
I wish nothing but the very best for this family, they have gone thru much...Steve was an incredible man. I've seen the interview's, all of them that they've done...but thanks.
Thank you UFO I know what ur saying I agree w/u on alot of points...

thanx suzana! i understand your very valid points as well! maybe if the promise is kept to let her only do it if she wants to, she'll be ok... so many child stars are not, but some are, so i'll cross my fingers for her. she's such a sweetheart, and has a great future ahead of her, if it's all handled well.

No thank you UFO
I agree, she is so much like her dad...I hope that all turns out well for this special little girl...
I to hope that she is allowed to do what she truly wants...if this is helping her...then good...it's just concerning is all. Thank you for understanding what I was trying to say.

quote:

this is an EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILD! That would be like if Cilla had put Lisa in the spotlight after her father's passing...I just don't think it's right and how much does an 8 yr. old really know what they want to do in life?????

No offence, but what’s the big deal? Just because she has the wish to continue her fathers work doesn’t mean there will be no turning back for her ever again or that she’ll be bound to this particular profession for the rest of her life. If she changed her mind one day and wants to do something totally different I am sure no one would keep her. But to me she already seems really passionate and not as if someone was using her for ‘promotional purposes’ at all. In fact, I could very well imagine her doing the same as her father and last time I checked there was no age limit for when you’re allowed to think about what you want to do in life.
Let her have her dreams and let her talk about it on one talkshow or the other…I’m sure her mother’s taking good care of her. It’s not as if Terri was turning her into some” Hollywood– girlie- princess”. There’s not too much spotlight on documentary films and zoo– life anyway.
By the way…do you already know the speech Bindi delivered on the day of her fathers memorial? It’s pretty touching….If you wanna have a look:
Memorial speech

Yes Raven I've seen them, I'm a huge fan of Steve. But thanks for the link!
Again please understand and what I've said above, I think this little girl is great...it just seems that she's a bit young...and soo soon after her dad's passing...
We'll just agree to disagree...thanks.

Of course, Suzana. And I do understand your concerns for a young child who is at such a tragic point in her life already!
But obviously this is the way Bindi deals best with what has happened... And if being with animals cheers her up and makes her smile and helps her to keep her routine then I think it's good- even though she's only 8.

I agree with TX Pixies. Bindi is a remarkable child who has been in front of the cameras since she was born. I don`t really think it`s her way of dealing with her lose-as much as it`s just something she`s always done. I wouldn`t know this if my own daughter wasn`t such a 'WILDLIFE WARRIOR' herself.

Thank you littleRaven, much appreciated...I'm not always good about getting across what I mean. lol