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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums15 Reasons Mister Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever
Back when I was in 7th grade I stood up in front of my English class and delivered a tongue-in-cheek, poorly researched presentation on why I thought Mister Rogers should be the next President. I ate up the first few minutes zipping up my cardigan, and putting on some sneakers, and then I proceeded to mock him roundly. It was a riotous success. Fourteen years later, I'm using this post to repent. The following are 15 things everyone should know about Fred Rogers:
1. Even Koko the Gorilla Loved Him
Most people have heard of Koko, the Stanford-educated gorilla who could speak about 1000 words in American Sign Language, and understand about 2000 in English. What most people don't know, however, is that Koko was an avid Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fan. As Esquire reported, when Fred Rogers took a trip out to meet Koko for his show, not only did she immediately wrap her arms around him and embrace him, she did what she'd always seen him do onscreen: she proceeded to take his shoes off!
2. He Made Thieves Think Twice
According to a TV Guide profile, Fred Rogers drove a plain old Impala for years. One day, however, the car was stolen from the street near the TV station. When Rogers filed a police report, the story was picked up by every newspaper, radio and media outlet around town. Amazingly, within 48 hours the car was left in the exact spot where it was taken from, with an apology on the dashboard. It read, "If we'd known it was yours, we never would have taken it."
http://mentalfloss.com/article/16416/15-reasons-mister-rogers-was-best-neighbor-ever
Mr. Fred Rogers truly was one of the greatest more amazing human beings who has ever lived.
TheBlackAdder
(28,167 posts)grilled onions
(1,957 posts)I know he was not the type to protest a new neighbor, ask for money from his viewers,ever bad mouthed others not like him, he wanted to educate the viewer and not hide things from them. He felt comfortable in what he wore.He did not feel it necessary to wear modern duds,designer labels. His image did not come from what he wore. He spoke softly. There was no need to shout to get his point across. He enjoyed life and tried to make life enjoyable for his viewers.
undeterred
(34,658 posts)There was something so authentically parental and loving there that they were all looking for.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,152 posts)Mr. Rogers was that celebrity.
msongs
(67,347 posts)snacker
(3,619 posts)brought a tear to my eye. The world was a better place with Mr. Rogers in it.
randome
(34,845 posts)He got on TV and implored parents to explain what was happening to their children.
He was a unique individual.