Won't You Be My Neighbor?
2003 Boaz Rauchwerger
If you travel about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh, on state route 30, you'll arrive at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. There, in what must have been a nice neighborhood, a very special man was born in 1928. He would eventually make the word "neighborhood" famous with kids of all ages.
His full name was Fred McFeely Rogers, better known as "Mister Rogers" to television viewers. By the time of his passing in 2003, at the age of 74, he had become a cultural icon and a kindly neighbor to generations of American children.
Mister Rogers, on television and in real life, was always gentle, always courteous, always a positive role model. In simple terms, and in a powerful message to all of us, he was real nice.
Rogers studied music composition in college and eventually wrote many songs for his television program. The one that would become most famous was the theme of the program that began with: "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood."
His television career began in the 1950's, at WQED in Pittsburgh, when he worked as a puppeteer for a program called "The Children's Corner." Many of the characters that would later appear on his nationwide "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," were created on that show.
"Neighborhood" began in its early form in 1963 as a show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In that same year, Rogers was ordained a Presbyterian minister and charged to continue his work with children and families through television.
Rogers brought his show back to Pittsburgh's WQED in 1967. That's where "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" premiered in the United States. A year later, PBS (The Public Broadcasting System) picked it up and started airing the program nationwide. With the last original program airing in 2001, Rogers' show became the longest-running program ever on PBS.
In a fast-paced world, where everyone seems to be in such a hurry, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was a wonderful departure. It was deliberately slow-paced, simple and straightforward. Rogers had such purposeful actions and a very soothing voice.
Every show opened the same way. He would enter his home, take off his jacket and shoes, and put on a sweater and comfortable footwear while greeting his viewers. According to Rogers, he looked at the program as a chance to reach young people and give them a foundation for a good life.
That sweater he put on at the beginning of each program became a famous symbol. In fact, a cardigan sweater belonging to Rogers hangs in the Smithsonian. President George Bush, in 2002, bestowed upon Rogers the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom. The citation read, "Recognizing his contribution to the well-being of children and a career in public television that demonstrated the importance of kindness, compassion and learning."
Rogers didn't take himself too seriously. He gave his mom credit for the sweater idea and the fact that it stated; "Won't you be my neighbor?" He explained by stating, "My mother made a sweater a month for as many years as I knew her. And every Christmas she would give this extended family of ours a sweater. She would say, ‘What kind do you want next year?'"
His mom knew ahead of time the type Rogers would want. She'd say, "I know what kind you want, Freddy. You want the one with the zipper up the front."
In order to produce his television program, Rogers formed a nonprofit production company called Family Communications. "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" won many awards, including four Emmys.
A variety of artists and actors appeared on the show throughout the years, from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to bodybuilder and actor Lou Ferrigno. Rogers, in his own unique and gentle way, discussed many topics, including divorce, the death of pets, and war. All the while, he taught the children watching to love themselves and others.
In addition to the hundreds of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" programs, Rogers leaves behind many memorable quotes that depict his kindness and his loving personality.
"We all long to be lovable and capable of loving," he said. "And whatever we can do through the Neighborhood or anything else to reflect that and to encourage people to be in touch with that, then I think that's our ministry."
There is a profound lesson we can learn from the life of Mr. Rogers: by slowing down, and showing more kindness, we can all improve the neighborhoods of our own lives.
A Daily Affirmation of Kindness
I take the time to show kindness wherever possible.
Article reproduced with permission from Boaz Rauchwerger. You may reprint any of these articles in any publication or Web site so long as you credit Boaz Rauchwerger as the author and include this Web site address, www.Boazpower.com.