Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

On July 1st, my husband and I went to see the Mr. Rogers movie, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”

My husband left in tears. (And my eyes got a little misty)

First and foremost, I recommend that everyone see this movie. Even if you did not grow up watching Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, you will find this movie to be very healing but unsettling at the same time. 

I would like to share five takeaways I had from the movie.

1. What Fred Rogers Meant By Saying “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

We all heard him singing the song in the show as he removed his coat and put on his comfy sweater- letting us into his “home” with a smile.

The word neighbor and neighborhood were used in the show so often, one might overlook their true meaning. Fred Rogers wanted all of us to treat EVERYONE like they are our favorite neighbor.

Even people that have opposing political or religious views.

Even people who have done us wrong.

Being a minister himself, Fred Rogers really kept his message quite basic. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 39.

In a world so full of judgement and selfishness, I believe this message is vital. So rudimentary, but extremely difficult for the average person to swallow. Mr. Rogers tried to dumb it down in a way that children could understand but most adults breeze past the message in it’s entirety.

2. Fred Rogers Purpose in Making the Show and What That Entails.

Yes, Mr. Rogers meant to share the message of loving our neighbors, but after watching this documentary, I realize that his purpose in making this show was actually very complex, too.

In a time when politics and tragedy struck America, Mr. Rogers explained these difficult topics to children.

Death.

Divorce.

War.

Assassination.

Even feelings of worthlessness.

TO CHILDREN.

That takes immense courage and tactfulness. He did it. While most adults assumed that their children would find out one day, Mr. Rogers realized how moldable the adolescent mind is, and tried his hardest to educate children on the importance of their emotions and how emotions influence the world around us.

As a teacher, I am familiar with children’s television today. It is trash. It is filled with surface level topics and entertains children with wild colors and noises to keep their attention, all the while numbing their minds.

Mr. Rogers watched as this brand of television was born and began to thrive. He was very disappointed.  If a child’s mind is really soaking up as much information as phsycologists believe, that noisy and shallow TV isn’t just a waste of time, it is damaging.

And that is what Mr. Rogers tried to combat on his TV show.

He wasn’t afraid to take a pause and just share a simple smile.

He wasn’t afraid to talk about emotional and serious topics.

He reached millions of Americans and gave them the love and attention they may not have received from anyone else, and only the Lord knows how many people he had a positive influence on.

3. Wicked Media

The saddest part of the documentary occurred in Mr. Roger’s later years when public television really took off.

Saturday Night Live.

Comedy Shows.

Talk Shows.

They mocked him.

They took his innocence and integrity and tried to make him look like a fool.

They tried to infiltrate his messages with wickedness like adultery, violence, and other kinds of immorality.

Mr. Rogers felt attacked as many Americans joined in the mockery.

I couldn’t help but draw a comparison between Mr. Rogers and the verse in the Bible: “And all nations will hate you because you are my followers.” Matthew 10:22.

I had a picture in my head of Jesus on the cross, naked and tortured with a crown on His head. The world was laughing at Him. Spitting on Him. The same people who praised Him in the streets just a couple days before. Mocking Him.

That leads me to my next point.

4. Fred Rogers and Jesus Christ

Fred Rogers was a devout Christian and an ordained minister. He shared the message and love of Jesus in a gentle way that anyone could understand.

We are so wrapped up in denominations and rules in the church that sometimes I think we are totally missing the most basic request of Jesus Christ: Love.

Fred Rogers LOVED.

One of his iconic messages to children was “You are loved just as you are. You don’t need to be an overachiever and go to the moon to be worthy of love. You don’t need to be a good athlete or even a good student to deserve all the love in the world. You are special. You are unique.” 

How many children need to hear this message today??!

The police officer on his show was a gay man in real life, and although Fred Rogers discouraged him from living that perverse lifestyle while on a children’s show, he made sure that his coworker knew that he was loved.

When people mocked him and questioned his own sexual orientation, Mr. Rogers was strong and kind.

Mr. Rogers got it.

He understood Jesus’ message to us all. LOVE ONE ANOTHER. NO MATTER WHAT.

When Jesus was on the cross and the crowd hurled insults at Him, He forgave them and still felt love for them in His heart.

What if we all loved like that?

I’m not saying that we forfeit our believes or morality.

I’m saying we love.

5. Is All Hope Lost in 2018?

Towards the end of his life, Fred Rogers was distraught.

He spent his entire adult life trying to share the message of love and peace and it seemed like he hadn’t even made an impact.

Media was becoming even more perverse.

Children were starting not to listen due to other distractions.

The family dynamic was disappearing.

Innocence was infected with wickedness.

And that was all before 2003.

What would he say now? When divorce rates are at an all time high.

When so many children do not have a mother AND a father.

When bullying is so prevalent.

When phones and TV constantly tug for our attention.

As a teacher, I can say with confidence that children these days don’t know how to have social interactions. They are confused on the playground. They can’t hold conversations.

So how can they show love?

I do not have children yet. But I am afraid. I am disheartened. I see what Mr. Rogers was afraid of.

The world isn’t trying to teach our children anymore. It is trying to silence them. Numb them. It discourages differences in opinion and encourages everyone to feel the same way OR ELSE. Accept things you disagree with OR ESLE.

What a scary, sad, and disturbing way to raise a child.

I don’t know where I’m taking this anymore, but I do feel like Mr. Rogers would encourage everyone- not just parents- to create space for love. Create space for difficult conversations (heck, more like conversations in general). Don’t silence your children with iPads or TV shows.

Let them learn. Let them explore.

Show them love.