Mr Rogers Neighborhood
There is a video going around showing the time that Mr. Rogers testified before congress for six minutes. It has had 109 million views on Facebook. He shares with senator Pastore his communication on each show with children. He said that he gave an expression of care to each child and let them know that each one was unique. Here is what he said to children during each show: “You’ve made this day a special day by just being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you and I like you just the way you are.” Senator Pastore replied “I’m supposed to be a pretty tough guy and I have had goose bumps for two days listening to you.”
Here is a song he used to sing to the kids:
What do you do with the mad that you feel
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong…
And nothing you do seems very right?
What do you do? Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?
It’s great to be able to stop
When you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,
And be able to do something else instead
And think this song:
I can stop when I want to
Can stop when I wish
I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.
The senate was considering a grant proposed by Lyndon Johnson for twenty million dollars for public television programming. Richard Nixon wanted to cut it in half. After the testimony public television got the full grant. Lou Ann and I heard him speak several years ago and were blown away by his wisdom and heart. He shared this: When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.
May we continue to create “Neighborhoods” of peace, love, understanding and inclusion. From my neighborhood heart to yours, Thomas