May 1, 1969: Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications 

@@dvb8637 Those who missed out watching Mr. Rodgers on television, missed out on important lessons on how to control and process your feelings.

Thank you sir. You deserve a lot of respect. I'll never meet you but I love your outlook. I wish Mr Rogers was still alive I owe him and now I'm confused because I can't pay it back.

...and there you are. What a sweet, wonderful, display of kindness and compassion. Thank you. Thank you, ever so much.

And there we've found one of the most wonderful people in the world. In a RU-vid comment, of all places. Someone who sees the good in all these people commenting on a video of a man being incredibly sincere in the face of a hostile audience. Finding a connection with people who are terribly enthused about the idea of kids, across the chuffing planet, having a place they can find a sense of care, that even if they're half a world away there's someone who genuinely gives a shit about them. Is that not a wee bit of a miracle back in the 70's? Not to adopt a cliche, but you've made this day a special day, just by reading your comment ❤

The liberals are them

don't make me cry

The most accurate statement ever. Could also be “I’m about to make this man my neighbor”

Don't make me cry bro

*Hah, that's great. Just wonderful. Keep wondering, in and around the yard, down the block, in the home and out in the field and in the road. Wonder what you can learn and find more of today with these great internet resources we have.*

This is the most wholesome form of this meme I've seen.

No he's Mr. Rogers. 😉

The senator was an ass man ?

@@candysmith8724 I'm pretty sure he'd be delighted to hear that. It is clear you learned nothing from Mr. Rogers. Shame on you.

@@candysmith8724 I'm not too keen on gay marriage either, I believe marriage is for a man and a woman, but, if a man wants to marry a man (or woman marry a woman), that is their choice... And they have the right to choose... Regardless of who they are...

@@therayven3147 thats awesome, just let people be happy

True story. Can you imagine when they looked at the registration? "FOR CHRISSAKE, WE STOLE MISTER ROGERS' CAR?!?

I further remember, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he then invited the car thieves to dinner.

@@maicey_t. What a legend.

Apparently this story is unproven but honestly I’m gonna believe it anyway cus it’s too sweet!

@@meesaikozhi71 If it isnt true it should be.

How is there not a Mr Roger's movie??

@@Dupstan There is...

​@@Dupstantom hanks played him

@@joshuamulligan4155 dang well that ruins it

@@Dupstan Hollywood doesnt have the spiritual power to ruin such a great man as Fred Rogers

I mean, just listen to how different his tone is in 5:06. And it only took him six minutes, incredible

@@gishathosaurus6828 You can also see his body language, at the beginning he's very sat up straight and such, in a very fighting stance. At the end, he's very more laid back.

He had probably seen so much insincerity that when he saw the genuine article, he knew it.

@@brianjanson3498 you are so right..this particular senator, if I heard right he was a senator. was known to be a real hard ass and not like his time wasted or to have someone b.s him..I don't remember what video I saw it on but remember clearly he was tough. Mr. Rogers knew what he was up against and that most likely he wouldn't win his case but stuck to his guns and rose to the occasion and turned this man to his way of thinking. It amazes me the amount of respect for one another here..I don't see that much anywhere I go.

0:54 “WOULD IT MAKE YA HAPPY IF YA READ IT?” To 6:40 “Looks like you just earned the $20 million dollars.”

inflamation is a bitch

@@CraveAHaveninflamation lmao

@@CraveAHaven *Inflation It's economics not an STD

Haha std!

@@dupersuper6516 🤣🤣🤣

Yeah, I think it's fair to be skeptical when he's dealing with State funds like this .

No kidding.

And yet if he was still here he would turn down that offer cause that man was the definition of humble I think at least his show needs to rerun on kera again (at a very reasonable time than 5 or 4 in the morning)

I totally agree, that’s a wonderful suggestion. I think a National Holiday for Fred Rogers would be a wonderful celebration for the man and principles It would benefit the nation and our children.

He deserves to be considered a saint

Sorry, best we can do is Juneteenth

That's exactly what I was thinking. Unfortunately though I'm sure people would want to see a similar program on TV today, you would need to find a similar man with his heart for children and people to be both in front of and behind the scenes to create such a program. Today's entertainment businessmen I doubt would green light this kind of venture and certainly not by a man like Mr Rogers who was Christian minister who lived out his faith and walked what he talked and believed.

Amazing isn't it.

@@Loulizabeth your right it really does seem like he had no ulterior motives judging from the people he met comments on him.

"We will have done a great service for mental health" - I was half expecting him to say "for decades to come" after that.

Daniel Tiger..

That guy With the face Haha so true

its funny because it would be so absurd but, i always liked bizzaro Mr. Rodgers talking like a wiseguy "with all due respect sir, i'm ova here busting my hump trying to make sure the youth doesn't grow up to be criminals, $6000 ain't gonna work my friend. i'll be by tomorrow for my money, yous guys have good day. oh hey, and i like you just the way you are HAHAHAHAH, PAULIE go start the car lets get outta here."

That guy With the face All he did was use his normal voice not screaming or slamming his hand down on the table and he got the money to save his show this is still outstanding if only we could all do this

Geek37: He didn't need to -- he just spoke his truth and that was enough.

Geek37 if he’d have done that he wouldn’t have gotten the funding. You need to work on your powers of persuasion. Saying the thing that sounds best to you isn’t always the most effective argument

💞

I dont even have the mental capacity to be this lovely

Are you suggesting that every single time someone talks today, they get mad? No one talks calmly anymore? What kind of logic is that. There were horrible people back then, and there are horrible people now. There were great people back then, and there are great people now.

Men can still do it, just that SJWs yell and scream to try to drown the good ones out

@@matt.oconnor why do you have to be that guy? Like you understand that by the dictionary definition Fred Rogers was a social justice warrior?

Joel Atwater Fred was never ever a SJW in his life. Not sure about the social justice aspect but Fred would had taken it any day but in a much different aspect. No violence but peace. Something that the SJWs lack on.

@@Seras99 My friend, have you ever sat down and had a conversation with an "SJW"? One of the things I greatly respected about Mr. Rogers was his ability and willingness to sit down and have an open-hearted conversation with someone, regardless of their political beliefs. I feel that you need to open your heart, rather than scapegoating people you don't like.

Wow!

My wife knew a woman whose father was a career Marine. They lived on the base, and this little girl was surrounded by large, loud men of action (nothing against Marines, but facts are facts). Her mother loved to have the girl watch Mr. Rogers because it showed her that there are men who are quiet, gentle, and thoughtful.

@@davidwalter2002My stepdad was an asshole navy man. Probably why I grew up to be asexual.

Goosebumps. Seriously some people should not procreate.

Bro... That almost made me cry...

Yes. I never got a chance to watch him, but this man is amazing.

I feel really good about myself, knowing that Mr. Rogers likes me - just the way I am. I like him, too!!

of course, he's your friend! and you're perfect the way you are.

I am right there with ya, bud. Grew up with him on PBS and feel as though I am a far better person because of him. Can't really say how many times I've watched this video as I keep coming back from time to time.

It's an incredible transformation, at 1 minute Mr. Pastore is irritated, at 2 he is interested, at 3 he is enamored. Fred Rodger's skill as an orator is almost unbelievable.

I’m glad I’m not the only one that realized that! Truly impressive indeed

This was like Jesus taking evil out of a person and changing them into a nice person .Mr.Rodgers had that kind of power.

@@NathanThePrezPretlow that senator isn’t evil, he was concerned about children television and was misinformed about great educational pbs shows

When the senator was 9, his father died and his mother worked hard to raise the senator. So when the senator heard Mr. Roger's concern for children, it must've tugged on the senator's heartstrings.

talk no bullshit, receive no bullshit its as simple as that.

I love how he changes up and the way he says “yes” to hearing Mr. Rogers. Like he brought out his inner child.

😂😂😂 Brilliant

And then he died because a heart 3 sizes too big is unhealthy...😂

3 x 0 = 0

@@rosierose1917 He died of Cancer

Well you could tell he was abused as a child cause he was acting like one before hand. He struck a nerve

Same here. I loved that response.

I said the same thing he was the man, the man that became a legend for doing what he love most!

Ok Advantage Exploration

Advantage Exploration in the spirit of Fred Rogers I will not dislike your comment, but instead I want to ask you a question, Why did you leave that? It’s very short so I don’t know much of what your thought process was or what it is even supposed to mean

Shadow Assassin mental health anymore is simply a scapegoat for lazy teens and young adults that don’t want to participate in society because it’s too hard for them. Grow a fucking sack and quit your whining

@@yotxguy9670 Seems you have some anger issues to work though. Good luck with that. x

Starwars4J, That's because Fred Rogers was a very unique man, and a genuinely kind human being.

I don't think you could sum it up better. That was the beauty of Mr. Rogers.

I think personally, that mr rogers was using feeling instead of words, and already knew the senator from what he experienced in conversation.

Wow, that is... well said. Just like the other comments. Are YOU secretly Mr Rogers?

Starwars4J well said.

It's in every one of us to be wise Find your heart Open up both your eyes We can all know everything Without ever knowing why It's in every one of us By and by

His spirit lives through so many of us.

All you have to do is walk into a space filled with people, start singing "And when you wake up ready to say 'I think I'll make a snappy new day!' " then see who snaps their fingers twice.

*BEST COMMENT!*

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

When spoken from the heart, you dont need to stop and think.

The man was incredibly eloquent

@laz kar He never pushed jesus or Christianity down anyone's throat though. He believed each persons spiritual journey was unique and personal.

I heard one or two ums, and he has a script A script he barely looked at, and his ums were shrouded in wisdom and thoughtful words So it's fine :)

Tyler Jaynes yeah, nothing wrong with a couple “um”s

There was a practical side to the sneakers. They made less noise on the soundstage floor

Cardigans knitted by their moms.

So true.

I'm watching pbs now, a documentary on Mr. Rogers. I was 5yrs. old in '69 I remember him so vividly. He really was a kind and loving human being!! I'm tearing up a lil bit as i write this, but i have to say watching Mr. Rogers again after all these yrs. makes feel like that 5yr. old again...everything is gonna be alright😷✊👊✌💕"🎶won't u b my neighbr?!"🥰

And announce every time he feeds the fishes

I dont think he acted a day in his life

I know, right? I think we somehow knew that as little ones, but eventually grew up to believe he must have been acting (like most of the TV show hosts we watched). Fred Rogers was the real deal...unique...one of a kind...and not another like him.

Yea I watched him religiously as a child he Never Ever acted Ever and had a profound effect on my childhood

I never thought it was an act ever

He's an angel.

School shootings could well become a thing of the past when bad feelings can be expressed and dealt with rather than stuffed to fester then finally erupt in violence. Mr Rogers, we need you more than ever!

But we need to say it louder so even the adults can hear it and take it to heart.

Absolutely. *mentionable* that's the key

I agree. That was the best part for me too. I'm glad I'm not the only who feels and thinks this. :)

The Fred Rogers foundation is still hard and happily at work doing what they can to continue Fred’s work for children and I’m so thankful for that as are my kids. I only wish there were more outlets of entertainment like this that promote that sentiment. Cartoons are really strange and mildly adult considering the audience they have. Most of them are pointless and unnecessarily loud and obnoxious which only lets children think that is the way to be funny or how to communicate in general. Expressing ones feelings about things are so rare still. How monumental was the episode of mr Rogers after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. He spoke to not only the children but the adults about how to deal with such serious things.

tearbag ... 168 people aren't our neighbors!!

Nick Boyle but they are Mr. Rogers

tearbag right!? I saw the thumbs down and wondered what the hell they could possibly be thinking!

:D

whoa

Daniel Monaco especially considering how brutal he was to all of the PBS execs and anyone else who wanted money. Imagine a man who wouldn’t give a dollar to an organization and in 7 minutes gave it 20 million dollars

Mr. Rogers was a Jedi.

Also consider that 20 million dollars in 1969 is equivalent to $140 million today

@@grumbles oh damn yeah, didn't think about it that way

I've never had water at a barbecue, but I know what you mean.

It was a genius and genuine play by Fred Rogers right from the get go when he chose to tell Mr. Pastore "no, I just want to talk about it (and not read some canned speech you've heard for two friggin' days). Sort of reminded me of the famous chess game "Placid Beauty" with Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972.

@@gynandroidhead it wasnt a play it was just him being up right. Honest and caring about mental health.

@@pluswig A "play" in the context I am using it (I'm a gaming mathematician BTW) actually works best whilst being genuine and reading a situation. Fred Rogers was very versatile, and trust me - he still could have been genuine with some variation of the situation called for it. But we all can agree that he was honest and caring about the mental health and well being of children.

@peroh Both

Me too.

"talking to congress the same way he would have talked to a child," maybe apropos.

Maybe we're all children, not quite all grown up as we think ourselves to be. I don't think I want to be all grown up. I think I want to keep growing.

Well, he always made it a point to talk to kids like he would talk to adults. I guess that's just how he talked to everyone :)

Why? Because most of the people in congress are children

No. He spoke to the Senator like a neighbor.

I watch it periodically for calm.

Same! 😭

Which is 141,000,000 in today's money.

“In fact, let me increase it by 5 million.”

*Please!* 😄

Got us to 999 likes and I can't wait for someone to get to enjoy rolling over to that sweet sweet 1k. Congrats to whoever gets it

😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@HearthCricket shut up, don't act like ur so smart

@HearthCricket nice of you to comment 5 hours later, that just be how long you had to think to write that whole response.

@MillenialSkeleton Go drink some Soy, child and scamper off to that special feelz place from whence you came

HearthCricket while i do agree that millennial skeleton is being a bit harsh i also think that u could have handled it nicer as the response u gave to me was a little rude but i understand that wasnt your intentions

@@lilkrispi9640 "a bit harsh"

Exactly. It's a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it could be.... but not him. Who we saw on television was exactly who he _really_ was. He is as genuine and authentic as it gets and we are so privileged to have been able to get to know him, watch his show, I looked forward to it every morning and always learned something from it. Genius is an understatement, he was talking about things WAY before they were talked about. He knew how vitally important it all was, before everyone else did. He was ahead of his time, and while noone is perfect he's as close as it gets!

Ikr, and he's not even trying!

For real. When he spoke, everyone listened. That senator immediately deferred to him, all in. As we were watching as children

Right? His ability to defuse and direct others towards positivity is nothing less than magical, and his humility is deafening.

He speaks to the child in us all....straight to core of who we are. Beings who need love

That's because most adults are children. Take a look around, when I was a child I thought a 40 year old was a composed and well-rounded adult. Now I am 40 years old and I see other 40-somethings as regressed children! Self-absorption, narcissism, sociopathic behavior is on the rise. You can thank the think-tanks for that. People advertising themselves on social media, this me me me bs! My comfort spot is anywhere where there's no people! Society is disintegrating

Skara Brae Man ....well said! I am also in my forties and have wonderful memories of watching Mr. Rogers on WQED in Pittsburgh! One of my favorites was the time they showed how the crayons were made LoL! Good luck to you bro! I wish you well!

27 and always looked forward to watching mr roger. When coming ho.e from school good memories....

If mister Rodgers saw this he would probably say something like "what is a hero, its a 4 letter word that is no diffrent than kind, evil, good, love. Its not the word its what u do with the title that really matters" or something like that, i dont personally know the correct words to describe him what is the kindest most honorable title a single human can hold now duplicate that by how many diffrent episodes he did now add the ammount of reruns his show aired and just throw in an added infinite for the ability of the internet to pirate and share his shows that is how honerable and respected mister rodgers is

I am 30 and I also loved watching his shows as a child. He was such a pure kind hearted soul. We need more like him today that actually care about people instead of only caring about what will bring them the most income.

Me too! I remember watching him as a child. I'm 56....it's Nov 2019. Mr Rogers was such a nice man. He was our friend, and my friend too!

This is the BEST comment on here. So eloquently said.

ElFino013 I’m crying. Your right.

And with being genuine about it.

Nope. He got 22 million

far22186 doesn't matter. Fred Rogers was a man before his time. Far and wide he was the kindest, most thoughtful person to exist on this planet. The human race did not deserve someone as kind hearted as that man, but I am extremely glad that we did.

I heard shortly after. when the Senate made the budget for the new year they increased it from 20 million to 40 million dollars.

minitrapper not yet

LOL, nice.

Our funds have doubled since the last time we met

He was the best TV host on the planet. He was a gentle speaker. And he was a good friend

Starwars reference?

I bet he could

Thanos would just stomp and cry and receive a hug.

These comments are gold

Thanos: The strongest sacrifice requires the strongest will Mr. Rogers: You made this day a special day by just you being you Thanos: *Tears*

Yes, he would've talk no jutsu him out of wiping out half the universe in an instant

So very true I like you just the way you are

I rather not focus

He did say he got goosebumps from his testimony

The amazing medicine of Fred Rogers

@@drewski1535 Laughter is the best medicine

Jesus loves you Kristin 😊

I wasn't diagnosed with ASD until I was 32 and couldn't figure out why I was so different, why people thought I was weird. I thought I was just a loser. But Mr. Rogers made me feel like I mattered, that the depression that hit me at age 12 (later: Bipolar Disorder) meant I wasn't useless. I can't watch him talk about kids' mental health without crying, because I think without his input, I wouldn't be here today.

Pastore was a notorious hard head senator and the fact that rogers got him to listen is incredible in itself

You are 100% correct. Without that 20 million Mr Rogers Neighborhood would have been far smaller and there is a good chance it would have only reached a fraction of the people it did. To be fair, they were going to give him $10 million due to the war but he was arguing for the full $20, but that still would have had a huge impact on the size of the Neighborhood. His show definitely had a positive impact on me growing up in the 80s so I cant imagine how many lives Mr Rogers actually impacted during his lifetime. Imagine if he never had the chance to reach a national audience.

Pastore was a Democrat, so he was not defying his party or opposing the president (Nixon was a Republican).

The thing is though is that it wasn't just Mr. Rogers Neighborhood that benefited from that $20 million, it was all of PBS. Without that funding who knows what shows we would have been deprived of or what could have happened if PBS decided to seek commercial funding as well as government funding. We might never have gotten Reading Rainbow, Cosmos, The Joy of Painting, Lamb Chops Play-Along, Bill Nye the Science Guy, or even Sesame Street. These 6 minutes of testimony had an incalculable impact on nearly 50 years of programming that has reached and touched the lives of so many.

That is a damn good point and one I never thought of, but you are absolutely correct. Mr. Rogers influenced countless children but so did the other programs you mentioned. Thank you for bringing this up.

The biggest act of Mr Roger was change a whole generation, warms the heart of many and made the world a slightly better place to live in

@@nietzschesghost8529 Oh well, he is still badass lol

Did you ever see him throw a tent tho 🤣

He beat the crap out of some clay because Mr McFeely made him mad

@@Karmy. lmao I saw that

I don't know how many times I've watched this I'm a 57 year old man I still get water eyes every time I watch it

I believe the senator's inner child was hearing him loud and clear also.

@@SkeletorJenkins a very touching moment, indeed. the senator must have held that memory dearly in his heart forever after.

@@rexross7086 It’s not just me then.

Lol.yep I just discovered this and totally cried. I needed and appreciated him back then and now!

Lmao good memories bro!!

Damn gods a dick he gave him stomach cancer so he could hang out with him

How many times have you copy and pasted this comment?

Kelpy G. Wow

My first reading of a stolen comment. Cherry has been busted

"This puts a smile on my face!"

And then Thanos decides to be a hero and help pass on Mr. Rogers's teaching.

In the post credit scene of "A beautiful day in the neighborhood", Bob Ross is shown painting, starting the Cinematic Universe of PBS.

@@zachlor4579 Mr.Thanos' neighborhood.

@@IndigoStorm27 won't you be his neighbor?

Great words.

J C perfect statement ....gave me goose bumps just reading it.....J C it’s obvious that Mr Rogers taught you and taught you well.....Well said

It's worked against someone that can give respect. The problem nowadays is that if you speak this slowly to someone, you won't garner respect, you won't even get a word in. because the other party won't want to listen. They'll get 20 arguments in before you manage to finish your sentence. : (

Say what you want but sometimes a little aggression is needed not saying it was needed here though but in general

I make my kids watch PBS kids instead of RU-vid its educational

Maybe or the state managed to co-opt Roger's message to their own ends www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/21/obey-the-cookie-monster-sesame-street-and-social/

As Marvin Gaye used to say, "Right On".

I missed out on all of those great PBS shows as we didn't have those channels I'm sure the Electric company benefited from Fred Roger's as well.

Yep

I didn't realize that. That's incredible.

Everyone who has a relationship with Jesus Christ, anyone who is born again, is a modern day saint

Jesus Christ doesn't exist, never did. FRED EXISTED

Stop excusing shittiness with your stupid fairy tales. Just be a good person

@@mattheweagle223 just an fyi, Fred was an ordained Presbyterian minister before he created his show for PBS. I wonder what you would say to him about Jesus if Fred was still around.

@@Brando550 there isn't shit to say

New Vegas with 100 speech.

You can't. No one can. Mr. Rogers didn't have to deal with your kid tearing ass around the house ruining everything. But you can take a deep breath when you want to scream and try and act more like you think he would when your kid paints the wall with nail polish.

Hi Kate, I just wanted to let you know that Jesus loves you. I'm praying that everything goes well with your pregnancy. God bless. 💙

it is so important. every little thing. my parents would never show me how to tie my shoes, they didnt even prepare us food or teach us to bathe . learned when people at school were disgusted and I had to feel shame for that. these programs could save lives....

If only I saw his shoe tying episode maybe I would have learned to do it before age twelve.

Apparently you agree with me if you could figure out who i'm talking about without me even saying his name. lol

Television is one of the worst forms of communications ever invented

@@maggiemae7749 lol What's wrong with television? Television is entertainment ?! Isn't it?

@@maggiemae7749 since you find tv as one of the worst forms of communication, if you were fred rogers, im curious what method youd use instead of tv, to get your message out to millions of kids over 33 years like he did?

A soft answer always turns away wrath.

Or at all. Most senators have already decided what they are going to do, hearings are just a formality before they vote yes or no.

Honestly they just got lucky that Pastore was the one who was leading the hearing. He was very active and educated on entertainment legislation before there really even was regular entertainment legislation.

It must have felt like being hit by a freight train of genuine kindness

Apparently it was a 2 day thing.

It's the way Pastore's voice changes as the conversation goes on... He goes from being rough and belligerent to softer and open and curious. Mr. Rogers had a power that only comes from genuine, deep kindness.

Daniel H a soft answer turneth away wrath

For so many years I just wanted to get back at people who said something rude or inconsiderate, but I got tired of feeling worse for doing that. It took a long time, and sometimes I still take the quick and easy path to anger, but I'd like to think the majority of the time I'm able to let things go and not say something in response that makes things worse. People like Mr. Rogers are perfect role models.

YES! Can't believe this was 54 years ago!

Absolutely! He always tried, on his program, to foreground a recognition of one's feelings and then a constructive unpacking of them. Such a monumentally useful type of guidance he lent.

Not necessarily ahead of his time, but he sure wanted all of time to feel cared for.

😂😢1a🎉8qq😂😂pl 2:48 😂i😢😢❤I 3q❤q 😅u

Firstly, to honor this wonderful soul, investing in public television. If everybody downloads the PBS app and signs up for PBS Passport - which can be for as little as $5/month - they'll get to watch the most wonderful shows whenever they feel like it! I love Masterpiece Mystery and Finding My Roots more than anything else on the airwaves. If enough of us do this, no one... not the hardest, most callous of hearts in D.C. can de-fund Public Broadcasting, nor silence the voice of the kindest man ever to imbue life in characters such as Lady Elaine Fairchild, Donkey Hodey, among others. All this he did simply so that one more child would feel at home in their own skin and, ultimately, in the world. I can't think of a higher calling.

Aye, no shame in it 🥲

It can happen today. Look how many people today are still effected by Mr Rogers and he how treats everyone. We don’t need another Mr Rogers we all just need to listen to what he taught us, and start following it.

Today the chair would be reading a paper and ignoring rogers entirely as he would already made up his mind and wouldn't be willing to consider any other outcome or perspective. Go watch nadler preside over hearings, its disgusting.

Heheh... I can't imagine it happening today. I just.... can't. ._.

@Offworlder1 Or more likely, the turn to bigotry and orange politicians who enable it. :(

@Offworlder1 The WORLD needs him bigtime. But sadly he is dead. :(

LOL! This was brilliant and touching.

@@laurabedin1121 Touching, maybe, in a certain sense, but ideally, the government shouldn't be in charge of art, science, education, anymore than it is authorized to be in charge of religion and the press, and for precisely the same reason. Theoretically, We the People control it; it shouldn't be in charge of presuming to educate, inform, or entertain us.

@@deepfriedsammich The government is simply providing another option. And I love that it happens to be a wholesome one. A wholesome option for people like me who grew up without cable or the internet, and had precisely one way to get a positive message from the media: Mr. Rogers's over the air broadcasts. I'm cool with libertarianism to a point, but please try to accept that we are still a society. We are in this together. We are all Mr. Rogers's neighbors, and I can't fault any force in this world that seeks to make us better neighbors, and encourage us to be kind to one another. That $20 million is used every. single. day. by our government to launch massive, expensive missiles, sometimes with a price tag as high as a million a missile. I don't know about you, but I am perfectly happy sacrificing 20 missiles to have a station like PBS that broadcasts quality, positive, happy childhood programming for free for all to see. Including rebroadcasts of classic, timeless programs like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street. Even accounting for inflation, I still think the cost/benefit analysis in that situation is a very easy one to make. Hell even if it were $100 million, in a nation of 300 million people that's 1/3 of 1 penny per person in taxes to raise that amount. Can you spare a penny?

@@rburp123 That was a very thoughtful answer, thank you. To a certain extent I can agree: if the money government takes from people has to go somewhere, it is infinitely better to have the politicians and bureaucrats spending upon positive, effective, connected, children's television programming like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood than tragic, pointless, unjust war-making all over the Earth. The problem with government though, is that it's agents and exponents always claim to want the money for Mr. Rogers, and end up spending far more to coerce and manipulate people, when it isn't outright killing them. Some of us are easily tempted to reason that if we have the authority to confiscate resources for good deed 'X,' then we ought to have the authority to do likewise for not so good, but "just as necessary" deed 'Y.' It is the stuff of which slippery slopes are made. I used to watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood too, and will not even lie to deny its value. Fred Rogers is definitely a person much in need in the world. He has left some pretty big oxfords/sneakers to fill, and I wonder who will be the one to step into those shoes. You asked if I could and would spare a penny for such programming and, to answer your question, I would voluntarily donate or invest much more than that, and so would many, many other people in America and around the world, for that matter. I put it to you that it is unnecessary to coerce people to support genuinely good purposes and ideas. Such giving has the virtue of being consensual. We are not so cynical and blind to value as people sometimes believe the average human being is. I think Fred Rogers' life is glowing exhibit A evidence of that fact. I think everyone could use a little more faith in themselves and in their neighbors' good will, and natural desire for consensual community. I would think that Mr. Rogers would smile and agree with that.

I was born in 2001 and found him on my own on pbs lol

He also cared about adults. I did not watch his show, but he toured my workplace about 30 years ago and two minutes with him was a powerful lesson. I gained much respect for him after that as the best and most positive person I have ever met. I was printing labels for clothes a menial job, and after asking what I was doing, he said perfectly enunciated, "that's important'.

​​@@brians7094It *is* an important job! Like Mr. Rogers, I probably would end up saying that most jobs are very important, but here's why that job of yours is important to me in particular: It wasn't easy for my family to get a ton of clothing growing up, and it was certainly all at least secondhand unless it was one of the few homemade pieces. Consequently, I really value and try to take good care of my clothing, even if it's nothing special to most people. So, I did then and still do, read all the labels on my clothes, to get to know the garment as well as possible and to take good care of it. So thank you for doing that menial work that really has played a significant role in my average daily life! :)

Exactly.

Amen!

Did you know that his mom made all of those sweaters for him?

Awesome

I heard he had tattoos during war and thats why he hides his whole why he hides his whole body and even arms in a sweater.

Cymande Hayes You were born with tear ducts for that reason

Rem Grett right on brotha

Cymande Hayes Same 😭

He spoke truth to power and he could not be denied, this was a good man, he truly cared about his fellow man, peace!

Same here

Feel like it should globally be required to show episodes to children from an early age such as the ones you teach, surely only good can come from showing them a man that is the real and genuine embodiment of kindness and love to everyone and anyone.

Yes, I felt like the kangaroo was holding the dog (not harming the dog) to keep him from bothering the sheep and the other kangaroos. The dog did not seem to be in distress. The video said they sent the dogs out to chase after the animals, so the kangaroo was just keeping him from being a pest. When the man approached he wouldn't let go. Reminds me of a parent who grabs the school yard bully and won't let him hurt the other kids. When the bully's parent shows up and yells at the other parent they just stand there holding the bad kid. I felt bad for the kangaroo.

I'm not capable of reading a kangaroo's mind. If he's holding my dog, he's a threat. I love my dog, but I don't know that kangaroo. He's cruisin' for a bruisin'.

I would rather not argue on a Mr. Rogers thread. Let's all be friends.

Boomeræng, Zoomeræng, Doomeræng, Up

Dave Kane Mr Rodgers was way better than Captain Kangaroo

How I wish that were true, but I've heard many bad things about him through the years. People with hard hearts are too numb to see the wonderful soft heart of Fred Rogers.

When I was a youth, all kids in school would diss on him. I even had a dream that a building was going to be imploded, and those very kids thought it was funny he was in there - but I took it upon myself to go in and rescue him, and we made it out just on time! I truly would have done that; he was a hero worth risking my life for.

Idan O'Reilly You're an American hero

that sounds like a challenge

Alex Cuevas wd

Depressing how true that is.

Politics have always been like this

Actually, Pastore had already made his mind up and likely was being lobbied. This is a bent politician trying to push an agenda having his mind changed by a convincing argument. That makes it all the more powerful, I think.

definitely not true

Lividbutton do you support trump?

Alexander Matveev Welcome to Mister Rodgers' Neighborhood 😉💜

That's awesome! Everyone should hear the tender voice of Mr Rogers speak his words of empathy. Glad you were able to find him. He was definitely a genuine caring soul.

His television show touch us as children to be kind to one another. And how to resolve issues through talking not violence.

Alexander Matveev I hope you have checked out his show. I grew up on this stuff and I can't tell you what he means to my generation (and others).

The world needs more men like this today. If we had them, the world would be a much better place.

amen to that

Very true

Brokeback mountain

@@toastbuster9050 When I hear that, I can't help but think of "12 Angry Men." There's no guns, I don't think even a punch is thrown (although I think one juror tries to strangle another) but it is men working out their feelings of anger and bias, and I think it's one of the most dramatic movies ever made.

Richard Klosterman You reminded my 17-year-old brain of 7-year-old me’s interest in watching 12 Angry Men. Thank you. It’s been a decade waiting.

cbincle we do in hundreds of episodes. Let’s use the work he did.

I need him back in my life. I remembered that everyday after school I go home to watch him.

You vote in a Demagogue like the current tenant at the White House For immediate gratification

@@michaeloneil2379 Trump becoming the President is the backlash of the Left going more radical. Obama was supposed to be the great unifier and instead, under his presidency, this country got more divided than ever. President Trump's message of Make America Great Again is one of trying to unify that divide. Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Age none of that matters because, in the end, we are al Americans. The Main Stream Media has done a disservice, they will not give him 1 positive commit. He brought about bi-partition Criminal Justice reform and the media only reported on the Jesse Smullet hoax. He brought about VA choice and VA accountability yet none of the MSM will touch it. The US Economy is in record-breaking numbers. We have seen the stock market beat their own records yet you will never hear about it. Lowest unemployment in our countries recorded history at 3.9% Medium household income increased to the highest ever recorded numbers. Yet the MSM will only call him a racist xenophobic, misogynistic, Islamophobic,..ect. Yes, most Americans will agree that he Tweets a lot of dumb things. Imagine if you would if the media covered him fairly, attacked him when he does things badly. Praise him when he does things well how different things would be today.

A lot of what Mr. Rodgers did is timeless. and it's still being aired today