I cannot speak for everyone, but a preeminent memory from my childhood is sitting on the couch and watching Mister Rogers Neighborhood, with Mr. Rogers himself entering while singing "Won't you be my neighbor?" as he put on a sweater from the closet and changed his shoes.
For those that have not had the pleasure of watching Mister Rogers Neighborhood, it was a children's show that ran on PBS, in fact it was actually the longest running show on public television running from 1968-2001, where Fred Rogers would have on various guests and do various activities with the aim of teaching kids, getting them excited about learning new things and treating them with love and respect as a unique individual.
Fred Rogers was born in 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and died in 2003 in Pittsburgh, and in those 75 years Rogers was able to have an immense genuinely kind and positive impact on the world.
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| Fred Rogers receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |
After having attended and ordained a Presbyterian minister by the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1963 and creating a children's television program for the Canadian network CBC, he and his family returned to Pittsburgh in 1966. Back home, Rogers finally created Mister Roger's Neighborhood, which aired to the nation in 1968. That same year, Rogers was also appointed the Chairman of the Forum on Mass Media and Child Development of the White House Conference on Youth.
Throughout his life, Fred Rogers won every major television award that he was eligible for, foremost being two Peabody Awards and the Emmy for Lifetime Achievement. Finally, in 1999 he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and in 2002 President Bush bestowed upon him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Fred Rogers, sadly passing away in 2003, left the world having accomplished so much and having touched the hearts of so many. His legacy lives on in all that he created and all those who he helped and inspired. He consistently spread a message of love and kindness, and I think that especially in the turmoil that we live in today, there is much to be learned from Mr. Rogers.
Bibliography:
https://www.fredrogers.org/fred-rogers/bio/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood#History
Ari, I thought your article was a moving and poignant tribute to one of the legends of television. I remember discussing him with you, and I was always fascinated by this pioneer and leader in the television industry. Mr. Rogers was a kind person who genuinely cared about the children he was reaching with his show. He also knew the importance of the television as a medium for communication. I read that the first time he saw a television was in his parents' home, and he knew at once that he wanted to be a part of the media revolution that would come with it. Just as he knew the importance of television, he put this knowledge to use in the best possible way: in teaching the future generations the lessons they would need to succeed and live a virtuous and good life. Mr. Rogers truly was a great man.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.biography.com/people/fred-rogers-9462161