For better or worse, C is kind of the protoplasm (or maybe the gelatinous goo) of the computing universe, especially the networked/interneted corner. You can probably get by without writing any these days, but obtaining a reading knowledge is necessary if you want to look at any of the internals.

C++ makes it much harder to shoot yourself in the foot, but when you do, it blows off your whole leg.
- Bjarne Stroustrup