Won't You Be My Neighbor?

By C.J. Hirschfield

I’m not ashamed to say that I have a copy of a little book by my bedside titled Wisdom from The World According to Mr.Rogers: Important Things to Remember. It features quotes and anecdotes from Fred Rogers about courage, love, inner discipline and, of course, being good neighbors.

For those of you who don’t know who Mr. Rogers was (he died in 2003), he hosted a revolutionary children’s television show called “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for over three decades. Wearing his signature zippered cardigans (knitted by his mother), and joined by his puppet friends, he spread the message of kindness and love—always respecting kids, and never talking down to them.

The U.S. Postal Service just announced that it will immortalize Mr. Rogers with a Forever postage stamp. (It will be released in March.) A documentary about Fred Rogers, Won't You Be My Neighbor?, recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. And if this isn’t enough, Oakland’s own Tom Hanks recently signed on to star in a biopic about Mr. Rogers, You Are My Friend.

Why all the sudden interest in Mr. Rogers? When you think about it, we’ve never needed him more than we do now.

This man, who on TV was gentle and encouraged kids to be their best, authentic selves, was also very special off-screen. In 1969 Fred Rogers testified before a Senate subcommittee to support public broadcasting. It's amazing. 

He also moved an entire Emmy Awards audience to complete silence—and many members of that audience to tears—when he instructed them to think of someone to whom they owed gratitude.

Last year I was lucky enough to attend the Fred Forward Symposium in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which brought together researchers, technologists, media creators, educators and advocates to explore current and emerging issues affecting the healthy development of children from birth to age 8. “Living well with media” was the focus of the gathering, with the goal of helping parents move from “screen worried” to screen wise. It really is a balancing act, one that Fred Rogers understood. He may have been a television star, but relationships and storytelling were what he was all about.

C.J. and a photo of Fred Rogers at the Fred Forward Symposium in 2017.

Now decision makers at new-media and social-network companies are recognizing the importance of shared experiences, invitations to create, personalization – and, yes, even peace and happiness.

At the conference, I was delighted to meet Joanne, Mr. Rogers’ widow, who is just as nice as you’d think she would be.

She recently told the New York Times that she thought her late husband would have been pleased with the idea of a stamp in his honor. She said, “I think that people must need him. Just look at what goes on in the world. He always wanted to provide a haven and a comfortable lap for children, and I think that is what so many of us need right now.” 

My favorite Mr. Rogers quote? “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” 

__

C.J. Hirschfield has served for 15 years as executive director of Children's Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation's first storybook theme park.