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 "Wikipedia posted:Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) was an American educator, Presbyterian minister, songwriter, author, and television host. Rogers was most famous for creating and hosting Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001), which featured his gentle, soft-spoken personality and directness to his audiences. I could go on about the Land of Make-Believe. The kingdom of King Friday and his subjects like Daniel Striped Tiger and X the Owl. Mr. McFeely and his Speedy Delivery. Or Mr. Roger's signature intro and send-off. How he was the perfect antidote to the often manic and hyper-active contemporary show Sesame Street. How in these highly polarizing and desperate times, it would be impossible for a show like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood to exist. But I think this is all the tribute I need: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q This is a video showing Mr. Rogers testifying in front of the United States Senate to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1969. Which was in danger of being cut under Dick Nixon. Mr. Rogers had no clout, no lobby, no donation. And yet, he turned the tide and secured much-needed funding to one of the precious few public resources we have. And he did it all with his trademark soft voice and respectful attitude. Mr. Rogers died in 2003 at the age of 74. Today is the Spring Equinox, and it's entirely appropriate that the first day of the mildest of seasons also hearalds the birthday of possibly the kindest person on television. Despite the huge amount of rumor such as how he supposedly serving in the US Military or the equally large ammount of slander about his character, his reputation remains as untarnished as his TV show. It speaks volumes about our more cynical times how we expect the worse about a man who lived a genuine Christian life in service to not himself but to a higher power through serving others. Happy Birthday, Mr. Rogers. I miss you  EDIT: Click here to pettition Mr Roger's birthday a national holiday. Thanks to Pope Crunch for the link  Benny the Snake fucked around with this message at Mar 21, 2013 around 14:32 |
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:09 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 09:24 |
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You have to include this as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upm9LnuCBUM
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:11 |
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I'm in the UK, but have always found the stories about Mr. Rogers saying "God loves you just the way you are" to gay people, when asked to castigate them, to be heart-warming. His evidence before a senate committee on PBS funding, shown above, is very heart-warming also. A good man. Edit: Oh, that acceptance speech is lovely also. He seems such a genuinely decent man that just hearing about him, or reading about him, makes me hopeful in general for people - even though I never saw his shows. Noreaus fucked around with this message at Mar 20, 2013 around 14:15 |
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:12 |
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My favorite "exploration" episodes were when he'd show off some crazy dominoes that some folks set up, then spend 5 minutes watching them fall. As a kid, that was so fascinating. It's a beautiful day, indeed.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:15 |
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I really like this remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:17 |
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I always wonder if Mr. Rogers' kids were able to win any dad bragging on the playground just by saying "My dad is Mr. Rogers". Actually, never mind, the man probably raised his kids to be better then that.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:19 |
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Truly a wonderful person. I still get a bit sad when I think about that they just don't make 'em like him anymore. 
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:20 |
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Not only was Mr. Rogers an excellent role model and teacher for generations of children, but he was also an overall marvelous human being. The world became a bit darker when he left us. Happy birthday, you beautiful man.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:26 |
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As a kid, I always wanted a stop light in my room because Mr. Rogers had one in his house next to the fish tank 
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:34 |
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Mr. Rogers is genuinely the best person this world has ever seen. I wish he yet lived, and that there were more people like him. He's helped me and many others through some really rough times, just by being as honest and good as possible.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:34 |
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Happy birthday Mr. Rogers. 
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:37 |
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You Are A Elf posted:As a kid, I always wanted a stop light in my room because Mr. Rogers had one in his house next to the fish tank One of my great life achievements was actually getting a full-sized stop light in my room. I passed it on to someone else when I got a bit older, but for a time it was great.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:38 |
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Mr. Rogers was an excellent role model to me, and whenever I was sad or was being abused in my young life I could just remember the lessons that he taught through his show. It's how I learned to respect myself for being me, and led to me receiving specialized therapy for my problems. You could say that the man offered guidance to children where no such guidance was feasible, and his lessons have often been life savers. Thank you Mr. Rogers for being my neighbor.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:45 |
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Fred Rogers is one of those people you can hear people talk about and assume that it is being embellished. That it is too good to be true. "No one is that good!" you protest. There's always something. And yet exhaustive research of his life and his character proves that yes, he did exist just as described on the packaging. It's almost uncanny. He wasn't putting on an act for our benefit when he did his show, he was being his very real self.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:46 |
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When I spent a summer in the dorms in Pittsburgh I heard about how one time someone driving past the dorms saw a student struggling to get a large piece of furniture inside and stopped his car, got out, and helped the student carry his things. After the man got back in his car and drove away the student realized it had been Fred Rogers. He was an educator who taught by example, a man of faith who never forced his beliefs on anyone, a champion of public broadcasting and an inspiration to everyone.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:50 |
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You Are A Elf posted:As a kid, I always wanted a stop light in my room because Mr. Rogers had one in his house next to the fish tank I wanted the trolley  . In Idlewild park near Latrobe where he was born, they actually have a really cute little area of the park dedicated to him and the characters from the show. Like I said, I already wanted the trolley. Actually riding on the life-sized version was one of the coolest things when you're a little kid. E: Actually, there's a few youtube videos of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1eW8R-q3Q . It's pretty cute for such a small amusement park. He was a decent guy, he did a lot of good and like somebody else said: they don't make'em like that anymore. Fluffy Bunnies fucked around with this message at Mar 20, 2013 around 14:54 |
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:51 |
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I maintain that anyone who doesn't admire Mr. Rogers isn't actually human. Happy birthday, Fred.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:51 |
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Here's a great article that The AV Club posted last month asking if Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is the greatest television show ever made.quote:It’s rare to find that direct link, that thread that ties you firmly to who you were and refuses to let go. The other movies and TV shows I loved as a child aren’t able to do that, but Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is. It pulls me right back to fighting with my sister for reasons I didn’t understand, or feeling terrified of what might lurk in the darkness on our farm. Comments on articles and videos of Rogers reveal how common an experience this is. Everyone loses things in the process of growing up. This isn’t bad. It’s completely natural. What’s remarkable about Mister Rogers is that he knows exactly where to go to pick those things back up.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 14:52 |
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If you haven't done so yet, watch the Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood show, at least the opening and closing credits. It was so clearly made with great love and respect for Fred Rogers that unless you are a big jerk you will cry a little.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:23 |
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Benny the Snake posted:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q This is really fantastic and touching. He goes in there, talks about his views on children, sings a little song, never even mentions funding, and then the Senator is like "yeah okay you get your money."
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:26 |
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His humility and willingness to give to others is just so inspiring. I think I've seen all of these videos multiple times, and they bring a tear to my eye every time. It's easy to forget to be grateful for all the wonderful things and people you have in your life, and it's easy to become self-centered. Mr Rogers always pulls me back from that.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:30 |
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I want to try to be a little more like Fred Rogers every day. I'll never be as awesome as he was, but every little bit helps, right?
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:30 |
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Bold Robot posted:This is really fantastic and touching. He goes in there, talks about his views on children, sings a little song, never even mentions funding, and then the Senator is like "yeah okay you get your money." The best part is how the senator's attitude changes as Rogers goes on. He starts off stuffy and confrontational, in the middle he's genuinely interested in what Rogers has to say, and by the end he seems to be tearing up as he tells Mr. Rogers that he just earned the funding.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:38 |
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Trent posted:If you haven't done so yet, watch the Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood show, at least the opening and closing credits. Came to post this. Me and my daughter watch it, and I have a few of his DVD compilations. I can't wait to show them to her when she gets a little older. And yes, I'm a big blubbering baby when I see the opening to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:38 |
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Burning Beard posted:Came to post this. Me and my daughter watch it, and I have a few of his DVD compilations. I can't wait to show them to her when she gets a little older. And yes, I'm a big blubbering baby when I see the opening to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. I was just looking for a link to post and lost it at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh8DOBWfYbs
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:41 |
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Mental Floss did a list video of facts about Mr. Rodgers which undeniably proves he is an incredible man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xck2ByutMg
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:44 |
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Even animals loved him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn79Lgfh1hw
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:45 |
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I had severe asthma and allergies as a child, and had to be on heavy medication in order to keep breathing. One of the side effects of all those meds was extreme hyperactivity. Coupled with the fact I have ADHD, I was one overstimulated child. Sesame Street drove me crazy with all its manic activity. Then Mr. Rogers would come on, and his calm, soothing demeanor let me settle down for a little bit. RIP Mr. Rogers. I agree with the other poster said. If you don't admire Fred Rogers, you're not human, or at least, there's something wrong with you, but Mr. Rogers wouldn't approve of me being judgmental, especially on his behalf.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:46 |
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Trent posted:I was just looking for a link to post and lost it at this On one episode they had a little kid go to the Doctor. I screamed because they Doctor they took him to was Mr. Roger's son. Looked just like him. It was pretty awesome. I enjoy the show as much as my daughter does.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:48 |
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I never watched Mr Rogers as a kid, and I remember making a cruel joke about him when I caught the tail end of his show as a kid waiting for another thing to come on PBS. After learning more about him, I still feel awful whenever I remember that to this day. He was such a genuine, good-hearted man who devoted his life to being a role model for kids who really, really needed a good one in this cruel world.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:48 |
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Doccers posted:I want to try to be a little more like Fred Rogers every day. If everyone tried to be like Fred Rogers the world would be a great place.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 15:49 |
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Suzuki Method posted:I never watched Mr Rogers as a kid, and I remember making a cruel joke about him when I caught the tail end of his show as a kid waiting for another thing to come on PBS. After learning more about him, I still feel awful whenever I remember that to this day. He was such a genuine, good-hearted man who devoted his life to being a role model for kids who really, really needed a good one in this cruel world. Oh thank God I'm not the only one. I'm glad we both saw the light.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:02 |
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This was a really nice show to watch as a kid. I thought he was the nicest guy ever and him changing when he got inside the house was the icing on the cake, being conscious of himself when inside.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:11 |
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Try reading this without tearing up:quote:Can you say..."Hero"? Read the rest here: http://bigbroth.multiply.com/journa..._you_say...Hero
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:25 |
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When I have kids, I'm going to do everything in my power to let them watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. There's something special about treating kids not only like special little creatures, but ALSO as emotionally mature enough to handle tough topics like anger or sadness or frustration. That's where most programs get it wrong - they EITHER go with the "you're special and wonderful yay" OR "here's some life lessons that you're tough enough to handle", but never both at the same time. That's what truly made Mr. Rogers special.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:26 |
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I've always promised that if I wind up teaching any grade from kindergarten to 3 that I would sing the "Beautiful Day in This Neighbourhood" song to start the day, every morning. Fred Rogers is one of my biggest inspirations as an educator, he taught children that the best thing they could be was themselves, and that it was okay to be mad or sad sometimes, and if mom and dad weren't together, that was okay too because they both still love you very much. He never let go of his curiosity and because of that lived to educate. I believe in Heaven only because I know Mr.Rogers is there.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:26 |
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I don't show many emotions, but when I do, it's probably due to reading a Mr. Rogers thread, or watching a Mr. Rogers video.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:27 |
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Living in Pittsburgh for most of my life, I was lucky in that I got to meet him a number of times. He used to come hear me sing sometimes. He honestly was as amazing as he seems in person.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:31 |
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I wonder if he ever regretted giving up a promising career as a cage fighter to pursue children's programming. Eh, he made it work.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:32 |
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| # ? May 21, 2013 09:24 |
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Civil posted:I wonder if he ever regretted giving up a promising career as a cage fighter to pursue children's programming. Eh, he made it work. I bet he could talk his way into the championship.
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| # ? Mar 20, 2013 16:48 |
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