Mr. Fred (Mister) Rogers Birthday

[JNieman]

Happy Birthday you magnificent American.

If you don't believe Fred Rogers was a national treasure, you're undeserving of respect.

George W Bush displays more emotion in this presentation than most of his other public redresses, I think, as he awards Fred Rogers the Medal of Freedom. Notice how happy he is, standing next to Fred Rogers, patting him on the back, appearing almost giddy. I think GWB was genuinely very happy to be standing next to that man. The American President and then-leader of the free world. http://video.pbs.org/video/1428491398

Mr Rogers meets Koko the gorilla, speaks with her, and she shows that she's a big fan, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn79Lgfh1hw

Mister Rogers talking to the Senate during a hearing to discuss the funding of PBS. I'd like to see what Mitt Romney would have said if he were faced with that Mister Rogers when he made his claims about cutting funding to PBS as a solution to budgetary problems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q

Before Discovery Channel even existed, Fred Rogers was doing "How It's Made" and these were my two favorite things I ever saw on his show, I think. I'm reasonably sure that enjoying these segments in my formulative years, along with my dad's encouragement and profession, led me to my love of manufacturing and machinery. First, the crayon factory: http://video.pbs.org/video/1415190951/ , and a visit to a trumpet manufacturing facility: http://pbskids.org/rogers/videos/index.html?pid=OpHls9RfEZ417b_FpWTFhBvcOO9qcTY1

And last of all, if you can watch this video and not be a little bit touched, then you're not human.
(I'll also note that while everyone is applauding happily, smiling, some already in /tears/ from their hearts being stirred, Rosie O'Donnel has a full-on bitch-face deployed, and claps half heartedly. That woman has no soul.)


So look at the effect Fred Rogers had on so many people of varying statures and positions in society. Think about his message, particularly the simple thing he asked you to do, for ten short seconds, in his acceptance speech of his daytime Emmy. Really think about it and give it a chance.

Thanks for living and reminding a harsh world about human decency, Mister Rogers. I wish we had more of you.

 

[TomTerrific]

JNieman: Well said.

 

[Pas Tout La]

After all these years, I never knew that he and I shared a birthday. That got me excited for a minute until I saw that today is also Spike Lee's birthday. Pfff.

 

[JNieman]

After all these years, I never knew that he and I shared a birthday. That got me excited for a minute until I saw that today is also Spike Lee's birthday. Pfff.

Well, Happy Birthday to you, too, then

 

[oleheat]

Yep...I wish there were more celebrities like him, today- instead of the degenerates we are getting carpet-bombed with...





Speaking of which- I wish someone other than the lunatic Tim Robbins would have presented him with the award in that last video.

 

[Captain_Morgan]

*Nobody* dislikes Mr. Rogers.

 

[JNieman]

*Nobody* dislikes Mr. Rogers.

That is unfortunately untrue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29lmR_357rA

I can't even make it through half of that video without having to tap out. Rage.

 

[Kook]

Speaking of which- I wish someone other than the lunatic Tim Robbins would have presented him with the award in that last video.

I was thinking the exact same thing

 

[Emperor]

Though I've done this over and over on many occasions outside of this particular request; In my ten seconds, I couldn't help but imagine him being a Saints fan and he and I watching the Saints / San Fran playoff game in 2011.

I wonder how it would look when he lost his composure as I did, when our secondary allowed Vernon Davis to waltz down the field on the last play.

 

[I_FLY_LOW]

Grew up watching his shows as a kid, too.
His bio, is interesting, also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers
I noticed, while looking for something else, on Amazon Prime, they have most, if not all of his shows out on streaming video, for free.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Week-Pr...UTF8&qid=1363801392&sr=1-1&keywords=mr+rogers

 

[MyTFAL]

I had the pleasure of working for Mr. Rogers. I was the 1st mate on a Snorkeling tour boat out of Key Largo called the "Infante", he and his film crew chartered the boat for the day to film a Mr. Rogers goes snorkeling show. The ride out to the reef took about an hour. We took him to Key Largo "Dry Rocks" also called The Christ of the Abyss location. The weather was somewhat choppy so instead of using the mooring buoy's (they left a pretty far swim,and he was no spring chicken it was around 1991 at the time) I hand set both a bow and stern anchor to where he could basically jump in and swim to the front of the boat and be on the Reef. The water was about 25 Ft deep and carrying a 65 pound anchor while holding your breath was not easy. I'm no big guy but at the time I was a professional rescue swimmer. I got both anchors set and as I was getting back on the boat Mr Rogers came up to me , shook my hand and said " I just wanted to tell you that you swim beautifully." It was pretty cool and kind of broke the ice with me and the rest of the crew. We spent about 4 hrs on the Reef and I had the the pleasure of escorting him to some of the less traveled area's. It was a remarkable experience and one I will always treasure. Unfortunately I had limited on Camera time. I was working too much the second mate got on film for about 5 minutes, but it really didn't matter.
I will say this he in person was EXACTLY like he was on his show. Extremely sincere, humble and real. His wife was very attractive and doted on him all day long, and she actually made us go in. He was ready for more. They took us all to Dinner that night, he was a great guy America needs more like him.

EDIT* apparently it was 1990.....from amazon...the episode is available.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Volume 5, Ep. 9 "Caring for the Environment (#1619) Snorkeling with Sylvia Earle"
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Mister Rogers goes snorkeling with oceanographer Sylvia Earle to see some of the wonders of the ocean. In Make-Believe there's a special newscast to help find a solution to the garbage problem

Runtime: 29 minutes
Original air date: April 19, 1990
Network: PBS

 

[oleheat]

I had the pleasure of working for Mr. Rogers. I was the 1st mate on Snorkeling tour boat out of Key Largo called the "Infante", he and his film crew chartered the boat for the day to film a Mr. Rogers goes snorkeling show. The ride out to the reef took about an hour. We took him to Key Largo "Dry Rocks" also called The Christ of the Abyss location. The weather was somewhat choppy so instead of using the mooring buoy's (they left a pretty far swim,and he was no spring chicken it was around 1991 at the time) I hand set both a bow and stern anchor to where he could basically jump in and swim to the front of the boat and be on the Reef. The water was about 25 Ft deep and carrying a 65 pound anchor while holding your breath was not easy. I'm no big guy but at the time I was a professional rescue swimmer. I got both anchors set and as I was getting back on the boat Mr Rogers came up to me , shook my hand and said " I just wanted to tell you that you swim beautifully." It was pretty cool and kind of broke the ice with me and the rest of the crew. We spent about 4 hrs on the Reef and I had the the pleasure of escorting him to some of the less traveled area's. It was a remarkable experience and one I will always treasure. Unfortunately I had limited on Camera time. I was working too much the second mate got on film for about 5 minutes, but it really didn't matter.
I will say this he in person was EXACTLY like he was on his show. Extremely sincere, humble and real. His wife was very attractive and doted on him all day long, and she actually made us go in. He was ready for more. They took us all to Dinner that night, he was a great guy America needs more like him.

Thanks for sharing that one....That's one great memory.

 

[drumz2129]

JNieman: Well said.