Peaceful Neighbor

Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers

De: Michael G. Long

Narrado por: George Newbern

Fred Rogers was one of the most radical pacifists of contemporary history. We do not usually think of him as radical, partly because he wore colorful, soft sweaters made by his mother. Nor do we usually imagine him as a pacifist; that adjective seems way too political to describe the host of a children’s program known for its focus on feelings. We have restricted Fred Rogers to the realm of entertainment, children, and feelings, and we’ve ripped him out of his political and religious context. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and although he rarely shared his religious convictions on his program, he fervently believed in a God who accepts us as we are and who desires a world marked by peace and wholeness. With this progressive spirituality as his inspiration, Rogers used his children’s program as a platform for sharing countercultural beliefs about caring nonviolently for one another, animals, and the earth.

To critics who dared call him “namby-pamby”, Rogers said, “Only people who take the time to see our work can begin to understand the depth of it.” This is the invitation of Peaceful Neighbor, to see and understand Rogers’ convictions and their expression through his program. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, it turns out, is far from sappy, sentimental, and shallow; it’s a sharp political response to a civil and political society poised to kill.

©2019 Michael G. Long (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Thoroughly enjoyed!

I absolutely loved this! Brought me back to certain episodes during my childhood, not realizing that the momentous impact they would have nor the subliminal meaning behind them. Absolutely recommend!!

Wonderful story of an important man

I knew of his story as it was happening but this book weaves a fascinating summary of an important life.

Great Untold Stories About Your Favorite Neighbor

I really enjoyed getting to see a different perspective from what I understood growing up and hearing different behind the scenes ideas into how everything was presented plus I think the narrator sounds a little bit like Mr. Rogers

peaceful neighbor for sure

I am a huge fan of Mr Rogers, both as a child who viewed him in the late 60s/early 70s, & as a parent of a now college age child. Like him, I am a Christian, & have long admired his television ministry & life walk from that standpoint. I was disappointed to learn of some of his religious beliefs that seem not to be quite in line with what I think the Bible says, however, each of us has the right to our own opinion, & each of our relationships with God is private, between Creator & created human. The book was quite interesting to me as i had no idea how ahead of & in tune with his times Mr Rogers was with the messages he packaged into his childrens program. The book shows correlations between Mr Rogers' personal life & world events & his programming. There was much more thought & depth than I ever knew. The narrator had a pleasant voice, but was clearly trying to sound as much like Mr Rogers talking as possible. Since it was NOT Mr Rogers himself, this was annoying to hear. I considered not listening to the whole thing, but am glad I did. Mr Rogers was a gift to our world.

Compassion is so important and we should strive to have this emotion.

mostly liked the book. Mr Rogers was intent on teaching children to love and not to hate. loving children grow up to be compassionate older people.