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Mr. Rogers might have been even nicer than you thought
Mental Floss ^ | May 23, 2007 | Mangesh Hattikudur

Posted on 05/31/2007 8:50:38 PM PDT by van_erwin

15 Reasons Mister Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever

1943-1-photo.jpgBack when I was in 7th grade I stood up in front of my English class and delivered a tongue-in-cheek, poorly researched presentation on why I thought Mister Rogers should be the next President. I ate up the first few minutes zipping up my cardigan, and putting on some sneakers, and then I proceeded to mock him roundly. It was a riotous success. Fourteen years later, I’m using this post to repent. The following are 15 things everyone should know about Fred Rogers:

fred-and-Koko.jpg1. Even Koko the Gorilla loved him
Most people have heard of Koko, the Stanford-educated gorilla who could speak about 1000 words in American Sign Language, and understand about 2000 in English. What most people don’t know, however, is that Koko was an avid Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fan. As Esquire reported, when Fred Rogers took a trip out to meet Koko for his show, not only did she immediately wrap her arms around him and embrace him, she did what she’d always seen him do onscreen: she proceeded to take his shoes off!

2. He Made Thieves Think Twice
According to a TV Guide piece on him, Fred Rogers drove a plain old Impala for years. One day, however, the car was stolen from the street near the TV station. When Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by every newspaper, radio and media outlet around town. Amazingly, within 48 hours the car was left in the exact spot where it was taken from, with an apology on the dashboard. It read, “If we’d known it was yours, we never would have taken it.”


3. He Watched His Figure to the Pound!

274149.jpg In covering Rogers’ daily routine (waking up at 5; praying for a few hours for all of his friends and family; studying; writing, making calls and reaching out to every fan who took the time to write him; going for a morning swim; getting on a scale; then really starting his day), writer Tom Junod explained that Mr. Rogers weighed in at exactly 143 pounds every day for the last 30 years of his life. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t eat the flesh of any animals, and was extremely disciplined in his daily routine. And while I’m not sure if any of that was because he’d mostly grown up a chubby, single child, Junod points out that Rogers found beauty in the number 143. According to the piece, Rogers came “to see that number as a gift… because, as he says, “the number 143 means ‘I love you.’ It takes one letter to say ‘I’ and four letters to say ‘love’ and three letters to say ‘you.’ One hundred and forty-three.”

FredRogers_BigBird.jpg 4. He Saved Both Public Television and the VCR

Strange but true. When the government wanted to cut Public Television funds in 1969, the relatively unknown Mister Rogers went to Washington. Almost straight out of a Capra film, his 5-6 minute testimony on how TV had the potential to give kids hope and create more productive citizens was so simple but passionate that even the most gruff politicians were charmed. While the budget should have been cut, the funding instead jumped from $9 to $22 million. Rogers also spoke to Congress, and swayed senators into voting to allow VCR’s to record television shows from the home. It was a cantankerous debate at the time, but his argument was that recording a program like his allowed working parents to sit down with their children and watch shows as a family.

5. He Might Have Been the Most Tolerant American Ever

Mister Rogers seems to have been almost exactly the same off-screen as he was onscreen. Despite being an ordained Presbyterian minister, and a man of tremendous faith, Mister Rogers preached tolerance first. Whenever he was asked to castigate non-Christians or gays for their differing beliefs, he would instead face them and say, with sincerity, “God loves you just the way you are.” Often this provoked ire from fundamentalists.


6. He Was Genuinely Curious about Others

Mister Rogers was known as one of the toughest interviews because he’d often befriend reporters, asking them tons of questions, taking pictures of them, compiling an album for them at the end of their time together, and calling them after to check in on them and hear about their families. He wasn’t concerned with himself, and genuinely loved hearing the life stories of others. Amazingly, it wasn’t just with reporters. Once, on a fancy trip up to a PBS exec’s house, he heard the limo driver was going to wait outside for 2 hours, so he insisted the driver come in and join them (which flustered the host). On the way back, Rogers sat up front, and when he learned that they were passing the driver’s home on the way, he asked if they could stop in to meet his family. According to the driver, it was one of the best nights of his life—the house supposedly lit up when Rogers arrived, and he played jazz piano and bantered with them late into the night. Further, like with the reporters, Rogers sent him notes and kept in touch with the driver for the rest of his life.

7. He was Color-blind
Literally. He couldn’t see the color blue. Of course, he was also figuratively color-blind, as you probably guessed. As were his parents who took in a black foster child when Rogers was growing up.

nyctransit051223ap.jpg 8. He Could Make a Subway Car full of Strangers Sing

Once while rushing to a New York meeting, there were no cabs available, so Rogers and one of his colleagues hopped on the subway. Esquire reported that the car was filled with people, and they assumed they wouldn’t be noticed. But when the crowd spotted Rogers, they all simultaneously burst into song, chanting “It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.” The result made Rogers smile wide.

A few other things:

9. He got into TV because he hated TV. The first time he turned one on, he saw people angrily throwing pies in each other’s faces. He immediately vowed to use the medium for better than that. Over the years he covered topics as varied as why kids shouldn’t be scared of a haircut, or the bathroom drain (because you won’t fit!), to divorce and war.
10. He was an Ivy League Dropout. Rogers moved from Dartmouth to Rollins College to pursue his studies in music.
11. He composed all the songs on the show,
and over 200 tunes.
12. He was a perfectionist, and disliked ad libbing. He felt he owed it to children to make sure every word on his show was thought out.
13. Michael Keaton got his start on the show as an assistant– helping puppeteer and operate the trolley.

misterrtrogers.jpg 14. Several characters on the show are named for his family. Queen Sara is named after Rogers’ wife, and the postman Mr. McFeely is named for his maternal grandfather who always talked to him like an adult, and reminded young Fred that he made every day special just by being himself. Sound familiar? It was the same way Mister Rogers closed every show.
15. The sweaters.
Every one of the cardigans he wore on the show had been hand-knit by his mother.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: christian; misterrogers; neighbor
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To: Dick Vomer
I think God loves you just the way you are. He loves all of us. Even the most vile, disgusting and twisted among us......but just because he loves us, doesn't mean we'll all be saved. I think it means that we all have the opportunity to accept his gift of grace.

Very well said. Everyone has known someone who has not lived up to the ideal way of life. Yet, if we still love them despite their faults why wouldn't God?

101 posted on 06/01/2007 7:06:25 AM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: FormerLib
That probably plays well over at DU but making distinctions about morality does not make one into a terrorist.

No - but the television show Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was aimed at children who are far too young to understand the intricacies of doctrine...and certaiinly too young to understand what heterosexuality and homosexuality are. As such, Fred Rogers did well in focusing on the commandment, "love your neighbor as yourself."
102 posted on 06/01/2007 7:12:53 AM PDT by Old_Mil (Duncan Hunter in 2008! A Veteran, A Patriot, A Reagan Republican... http://www.gohunter08.com/)
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To: Diamond

I just turned on some of his music. You’re right Johnny Costa is great. And it makes me smile. I can’t help it.


103 posted on 06/01/2007 7:16:42 AM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: RedQuill
You’ll be surprised to know that the man inside “Dancing Bear” was none other than (might want to sit down for this) Alice Cooper.

get outta here!

104 posted on 06/01/2007 7:33:31 AM PDT by latina4dubya
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To: Quix
Bob (Killer) Keeshan and Fred (Slash) Rogers were together on Iwo Jima. Finding themselves totally out of ammunition and under heavy fire from two separate enemy machine gun nests, they glanced at each other, winked, and charged over the hill.

Keeshan went to the left and Rogers to the right, dodging bullets. Using nothing but their bayonets and bare fists they were able to kill an entire squadron of Japanese soldiers and totally destroy the machine gun nests.

Later they were asked how they had avoided the shower of machine gun bullets. They just grinned and took a big swig of water from their canteens. Onlookers were amazed to see the fountains of water spewing out of the multiple holes all over their bodies.

Later on Mount Suribachi they helped raise the flag and you can see their likeness immortalized in the famous statue in Washington DC.

105 posted on 06/01/2007 7:40:05 AM PDT by Drawsing (The fool shows his annoyance at once. The prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16))
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To: I Drive Too Fast

ping


106 posted on 06/01/2007 7:44:52 AM PDT by windcliff
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To: DesScorp
““God loves you just the way you are.”

Bible makes it abundantly clear that no, He doesn’t.

God loves you anyway but wouldn’t tolerate such behavior.


You are contradicting yourself. Saying 'God loves you just the way you are' does NOT mean 'God loves what you are doing'. It means 'just because you are sinning does not mean God does not love you'.

You might think, 'of course I know that! That is what I meant!' but sadly many nonsaved has not gotten that impression. They really think they are doomed and think the only way to not be doomed would be to somehow become perfect. Since they know they can't do that they just give up and stop caring. The whole 'if I am going to hell anyway I might as well have fun' attitude. Sometimes people do need to be reached out to in a way that says 'Hey, there is still hope no matter what.'
107 posted on 06/01/2007 7:48:49 AM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Drawsing

People will be amazed to know that Rogers was at Roswell in 1948 and shot down the UFO with his revolver.


108 posted on 06/01/2007 7:52:54 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: TalonDJ

Kinda odd that God loves everybody but never knew some people

Mat 7:21-23 MKJV
(21) Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
(22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
(23) And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!


109 posted on 06/01/2007 8:00:55 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: SteveMcKing

Achieving them is even better, and Fred Rodgers certainly did.


110 posted on 06/01/2007 8:06:38 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Old_Mil
Fred’s show was appropriate for its intended age group, but announcing that “God loves you just as you are” to a group of homosexuals is denying the sinfulness of what God Himself has called an abomination and is not something that I can support.
111 posted on 06/01/2007 8:13:54 AM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: van_erwin

I believe he was an ordained Presbyterian minister


112 posted on 06/01/2007 8:15:07 AM PDT by ears_to_hear
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To: AppyPappy
People will be amazed to know that Rogers was at Roswell in 1948 and shot down the UFO with his revolver.

That was his brother Roy.

113 posted on 06/01/2007 8:18:56 AM PDT by MARTIAL MONK
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To: MARTIAL MONK

Mr Rogers also wrestled as George The Animal Steele in the WWWF. You don’t recognize him because he doesn’t speak. His voice would give him away.


114 posted on 06/01/2007 8:26:03 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: Dick Vomer

wait... murderer?

what?


115 posted on 06/01/2007 10:31:34 AM PDT by van_erwin
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To: van_erwin

in war sometimes it’s hard to tell what is what...my “actions” then and since then have resulted in the death of people or severe injury. I can only hope and pray that my life is judged by a forgiving God and that is why I can only pray that there really is a merciful and forgiving God.


116 posted on 06/01/2007 11:21:34 AM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: AppyPappy
That’s crap. He sure didn’t love the Pharisees

He was angry with the Pharisees and angry at their actions. But isn't he the one that states we are all God's children and that you hate the actions not the man.

I hate what my kids do sometimes, but I don't hate them... I'll scream and yell, but I still love them and would probably give my life for them.

He was crucified next to a thief, he looked for the sinners, cause we are the ones that need Jesus the most.

117 posted on 06/01/2007 11:28:24 AM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: van_erwin
Mr. Rogers was the ONLY thing worth watching on PBS. With characteristic west Pennsylvania friendliness, Fred Rogers was able to talk TO children without talking down to them.

Laugh all you like, but Fred Rogers was a cherished part of my childhood. I WISH I had a neighbor like him.

118 posted on 06/01/2007 11:30:28 AM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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To: rlmorel
True story. Mr. Rogers and Eddie Murphy accidentally met eachother at a charity even about 15 years ago. Eddie was actually in awe of Fred and ended up hugging him.

"Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" was quite funny, but the real deal was evidently an important part of Eddie's childhood.

119 posted on 06/01/2007 11:32:35 AM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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To: latina4dubya; Obie Wan
Yes, but was Frank Zappa, "the son of Mr. Greenjeans?" Mr. Greenjeans always reminded me of Ed Gein to boot.

Of course, Mr. Rogers also produced one of the dirtiest character names on a children's show: "Mr. McFeely."

120 posted on 06/01/2007 11:35:42 AM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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