Yesterday, I saw “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — the documentary about Fred Rogers.
As I messaged my sister beforehand, “I think it’s going to help me feel better about humankind.”
And it did.
Immediately after I saw the movie, I noticed this sign:
Here’s Fred Rogers testifying in 1969 to a Senate Subcommittee that was on the verge of removing the funding for public television, which would have prevented lots of neighbors from seeing his show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
I agree with what Fred Rogers says there — including “We’ve got to have more of this neighborhood of care” — and I’m glad that Senator Pastore was swayed by his testimony.
I think the world needs more neighbors like Fred Rogers and fewer ones who send out hostile tweets to and about all sorts of neighbors.
What’s a neighbor, anyway?
neigh·bor
ˈnābər
noun
1. a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to.
“our garden was the envy of the neighbors”
verb
1. (of a place or thing) be situated next to or very near (another).
“the square neighbors the old quarter of the town”
We all live near to each other on this small planet, so we’re all neighbors.
Won’t you be my neighbor as you look at these other photos from yesterday?
I’m glad that the new trees in Cambridge won’t be leaving.
I want to share one of the many songs Fred Rogers wrote, which he sings here to Jeff Erlanger.
It’s you I like, neighbor.
Thanks to all my neighbors who helped me create today’s post and who are reading it– including YOU, my neighbor.
i’ll be seeing it in a few weeks, with some of my colleagues, and cannot wait. he is one of my idols for many reasons. at a conference a couple of years back, i met a woman who worked with him for over 40 years. she said that he is everything you see and imagine and much more. i love your sign that was a sign.
I love your comment, Beth. Thank you.
Yes, Ann, indeed. We need more compassion and less bluster in our neighborhood of the world.
Thanks for being a compassionate neighbor, Mark.
This movie is having a big impact on people, and bringing awareness to the need to be neighborly and kind. Thanks for sharing Ann 💛
I didnt grow up with Mr Rogers, so he feels kind of foreign and dead pan compared to his British counterparts in Blue Peter.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1iT2aMPrc&w=560&h=315%5D
https://youtu.be/UW1iT2aMPrc
Thanks for being a kind neighbor, Val, and sharing your experience.
I hadn’t heard of the movie. Now I look forward to seeing it. Thank you.
I always look forward to seeing you, Maureen.
The first video not available in my country, but the second is inspirational
I hope that you, my inspirational neighbor, can see the video you missed here:
That’s better. Yes, “it’s wonderful”
After I saw Won’t You Be My Neighbor I spent a long time walking in the neighborhood around the theater thinking about a question posed in the film: Did Mr. Rogers make a difference?
I enthusiastically recommended it to some people who were reading the poster and we had a brief but nice conversation, and I realized that Mr. Rogers taught us the power of honesty and goodness. It wasn’t his responsibility to make the world better–no single person can do that–but it is our responsibility to apply his lessons.
You make a difference, Chris. Thanks for applying his lessons.
He was certainly a special person. I wish more people were like him, especially in the media.
Thanks for this special comment!
Everybody needs good neighbours 🙂
Thanks for being my good neighbor, Alex!
I think I am a good neighbour, we are quiet except for Monday to Friday mornings when it is loud and mad here with Leo & Blain running amuck here before school
You’re a very good neighbor to me, Joanne.
PS, Mr Rogers was one of a kind. I miss him.Wish he were here now.
I’m so glad you’re here now, Maureen.
I have watched Mr. Rogers senate talk so many times, I can’t get enough of it. He is wonderful. He created wonderful. We need him.
We need wonderful you, Colleen.
<3 You are so kind to me.
Wow, Mr. Rogers was so young for that Senate testimony. I have friends whose children just loved him. Nice to see him again. Truly from another time!
I just love your neighborly visits here, Lisa.
I hope those trees continue to be your neighbors as well.
Trees are great neighbors and so are you!
Yes, I saw the documentary and it lifted my spirits. Left me with hope. May we all accept others as they are. And respect each person we meet.
A truly touching and wonderful movie.
Your comment lifted my spirits, Barb. Many thanks.
I have been wanting to make time for this documentary and I certainly plan to see it! I used to watch him with my children and I’m confident that I was getting more out of the messages than they were! He was a guiding light then, and we really need his message and example more today than ever. Thank you for sharing about the documentary and even reading your post I was smiling, thinking of his tender responses to others.