Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood ran for 31 seasons on PBS, from 1968 through 2001. Most of us know the story of how Mr. Rogers saved PBS. On May 1, 1969, he testified in front of Congress in support of funding ($20M) for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In his remarks he said, "I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health." He then went on to recite the lyrics to "What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?" and won over the panel to receive the funding.
That event was only one in a multitude that Fred Rogers did to promote goodness, positivity and a neighborly feeling. He lived a life full of faith and love and trust and America and being a neighbor.
Mr. Rogers defined a neighbor as "those who we happen to be with at the moment". That strikes a chord with me. I had thought of the primary meaning of neighbor to be that of a person who lives next to where I live. I love Mr. Rogers' perspective of it simply being anyone who is with us right then and there. It brings the meaning to be more personal, more familiar.
He said, "The basis of all healthy relationships... is to be able to look for the good in your neighbor." How many people in our own lives that should have that outlook for us, don't? How many around us seem to project negativity? How easy is it to see the bad in people? To see the bad in America?
It's easy to think America is all bad right now, especially if you pay any attention to the main stream media. Mr. Rogers said, "The media shows the tiniest percentage of what people do. There are millions and millions of people doing wonderful things all over the world and they're generally not the ones being touted in the news."
Mr. Rogers believed that those who looked for the good in people draw themselves closer to God. By contrary, those who look for the bad or the negative in people - those are further from God, meaning they are closer to evil. Evil wants us to only look for and see the bad, which perpetuates evil. Mr. Rogers believed "that when we look for what's best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does all the time. So in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something sacred." Sacred founded America.
So Fred said, "I encourage you to look for the good where you are and embrace it." I love that outlook. It's not about ignoring the bad; it's about focusing on the good to perpetuate goodness.
I think if we look at America as our neighborhood, if we see each other as neighbors, if we can look with positivity, with hope, then we can affect positive change in our country.
Let's follow Mr. Rogers' theme:
Love America at its best; strive positively for it; love it enough to stand for its freedoms.
For the right to speak your mind and have your voice heard.
For the obligation to vote and hence, the responsibility to ensure elections are fair.
For the Supreme Law of the Land - the Constitution of the United States.
For those who can't speak: those who were murdered by abortion; those silenced by the majority; those who are the most vulnerable - our children, our elderly, our disabled, our mentally ill.
For your freedom to defend yourself, your loved ones, your home and your neighbor.
For your freedom not to be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process.
For your freedom to peaceably assemble, to petition our government.
For the constant reminder to our government that their powers are inherent in us, We the People.
We the People can continue to support and push forward those positive attributes of America. If we do nothing, if we only complain and look at our Country in negative light, we will perpetuate negative and that will continue to allow our government to restrict us.
So, ask yourself this question:
Which weighs more and which carries more weight - 1 pound of restrictions or 1 pound of freedom?
