Fox News slanders the nicest, sweetest, most gentle man that ever walked the planet
 

Mr. Rogers ...

To feel shame and disgust, click here

And yes, they are only reporting a story, but the fact is -- it is not a story. It is a crackpot theory that would not hold up under the slightest bit of scrutiny.

I watched less then thirty seconds before switching it off.

Instead, click here, to see the real Mr Rogers as he talks with the U.S. Senate in 1969

And click here, to watch him say Goodbye


GOD BLESS, MR. ROGERS!

Umm... the "shame and disgust link took me to his goodbye. But thanks for the Mr. Rogers links... those were awesome.

Yeah... your first link didn't bring me to Fox. I had to search for it. I'm sorry I did.

But the Senate clip made me happy to be alive.

Holy crap! That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

I've made my admiration for Mister Rogers known here on a couple of occasions, and I stand by that. He made the world a better place. He never told kids that they didn't have to work or that the world owed them anything. He let kids know that their thoughts and feelings were valid, and that they should treat others with repect. Oooooh! Them's the kind of ideas that could ruin a generation!!!

Grrrrr...

Those other clips are wonderful, though. If anyone cares to see more, there is a great tribute available on DVD - Mister Rogers, America's Favorite Neighbor. (Watch the segment in which he talks with then ten-year old Jeff Erlanger, a quadriplegic who later went on to become a well known activist and advocate for the disabled. Ask yourself if Rogers spoiled this boy by telling him he liked him just the way he was.)

Edit
 

I apparently just missed the cut off time to include the correct link. The system let me edit but I was not able to seal the deal.

So, to feel shame and disgust, or, indifference, or, in need of a shower, click ... here

Grrrrrrrrr...

What in the world???

Fox News was great at some new reporting, but this is crazy. How does a TV show for little children cause those problems. its not him or the TV, but elsewhere where kids get taught they are entitled. He's making little kids feel better about themselves, but parents and teachers might be pushing it. My generation sort of feels entitled from getting extra help and time and such which is lost in adulthood.

My mom didn't push the whole idea I'm special idea, some of my teachers did but then they changed later on. Perhaps the issue with the 90s generation might be how they were brought up with mostly technology and educational tv and special tv (mr. rodgers and barney) and having parents enforce that concept??

I don't know, I can be wrong though.

So, Mr. Rogers is evil, but there's nothing wrong with all the helicopter parents who are part of that great, hard-working generation they're so proud of. Perhaps we should examine whether Howdy Doody led to the vast abdication of personal responsibility?

Mr. Rogers was a great, truly great man. I loved watching him.

I echo the sentiments of mousepod, the Senate clip was awesome.

Wow they accused him of everything short of 9-11 and Communism. Fox news is utterly disgusting.

That makes me ill.

They vilify Mr. Rogers and promote Oliver North. :rolleyes:

What assholes.

These replies make me sad. I'm not even going to click the link. I don't want to feel ikky :(

Mr. Rogers was awesome.

Awesome enough to impregnate Mia Farrow with the SON OF SATAN, that is. :D

Here's a nice dose of reality to wash that awful Fox taste out.

The only people who would think this of Mr. Rogers are bumper-sticker-philosophers who can only think in soundbites and catch phrases. Sure, if you look at nothing more than his one line, "You're special, just the way you are," it might be interpreted to promote what they claim. But if you have an attention span longer than a flee and actually watch the show, you might actually learn something and see that Mr. Rogers preached the most unselfish values in the history of man.

Asses.

Ironically, the vast majority of the audience for this nonsense probably goes to church every Sunday to celebrate their salvation through grace rather than good works.

Thank God that, having been born into the Chosen People, I was not brought up with such sh*t.

Even more ironically, wasn't he a minister?

I had to turn it off... I can't believe they really actually said he was evil!

I need to watch the senate hearing again to get my happy back...

I never liked Mr. Rogers when I was a kid, but this is silly.

NPR, though, also mentioned this article the other day so they too have slandered Mr. Rogers. Apparently he is getting it from both the left and the right.

This is vile. Those people have no decency whatsoever.

Yes, he was.

Full entry here.

I have a necklace with a Mr. Roger's quote on it "you can never go down the drain".

Hey look, more fine reporting from Faux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OarmJy8UC9U

Here's my "favorite" part. Go to about 1:30 into the clip and look at the caption. Can they get any closer to that being an exclamation instead of a question mark? Freaking tabloid.

:(

Since I clicked Tref's first link first, I watched his goodbye first. Then, I couldn't even watch more than 30 seconds of the clip. Seeing his goodbye first really affected me. What is wrong with our country? How can anyone point a finger at that man and say such awful things? I really am close to tears right now. The so-called professor Don Chance of LSU sure did find a way to get his name in the papers, but for anyone else to actually JUMP on the bandwagon and sneer is just ugly.

:(

Dude, that's amazing. I remember well the part of my high school history classes where we early 20th century yellow journalism...I really hope that in 50-100 years we can look backward at this kind of thing.

Blog response to a conservative nutjob blog post about this story. Brought a tear to my eye.

Funny report. The first guy says that socialized medicine will bring in terrorists. The second guy says that while it might not bring in terrorists, it will deliver bad quality care. Then the host throws it to the third "expert" with "You've heard both sides..."

Very subtle, Fox.

Here is a quite suitable official response from the parent company for Mister Rogers Neighborhood:

Reply in Wall Street Journal

The way to avoid entitlement is to put the blame elsewhere. :rolleyes:

I think we must all turn off our TV sets immediately, starting with Faux News.

Amen, sister!

I don't watch Faux, but can I wait until the Tour is over to turn the TV off?

I think I'm probably better off not watching the video. Fox News irritates me just by being on in my vicinity.

When the revolution comes, Fox News will be the some of the first to be in front of the firing squad! VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

OK. For one thing, I think that professor is just looking to get his name heard. He's looking for his next book deal. Talk about entitlement.

For another, I would much rather not look at the small but vocal minority who are making my generation look bad, but to the people with whom I've surrounded myself. We are working very hard (some of us until 11pm at night with a bus commute that follows-- that's you EH) to do good work. We are working extra-hard to make our dreams come true (and frankly, I don't know about you but my dreams have little to do with what is coming to me after I achieve it-- my dreams just involve the means to be creative and to be free from worry.) And damn it... every one of us IS special. Flaws and all. Regardless of what we do. Because of who we are.

This does not, of course, mean that we "deserve" anything more than anyone else. But it means we should treat ourselves with care. We should treat everyone else around us with care. This is what Mr. Rogers-- and, frankly, what Christ (are you listening, Faux Christians News)-- was saying.

Working hard to debase the culture, you mean.

Except for Fox News, the WSJ and other self-annointed prophets of the hard-working people who play by the rules, people on the coasts who work in media and entertainment are not, in the cultural debate, working hard.

Aw, I love your post.

And, I think that the people who 'get' that they are special from Mr. Rogers aren't the PITA's that are causing the problems out there. I can think I am special, teach my kids they are special, but, not that they are entitled to go around and treat people badly because they are 'special' or get away with whatever they want to because they are 'special'. I've taught them they are special, that we are all special and that there are moral standards, laws, etc. that we all need to follow.

{okay, they don't always listen to me but I have taught them, none the less!!}

I loved the show. I think he taught a lot of things and showed kids that there is a world out there besides their little comfy spot in front of the t.v. with their sippy cups and coloring books.

{on a side note, I caught Eddie Murphy on A&E and they showed a clip of his spoofs on Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood, too funny...}

I wasn't just talking about the entertainment industry, btw, even though I know you're being ironic about that. I hail from the Midwest-- the very Christians you were insulting above, S, and my family and friends are all hardworking people (many of whom do attend church every Sunday) who focus on doing good works over sitting idly by waiting for their holy "due." Please do NOT lump Christians together. Again-- small but vocal minorities do not speak for all.

His point was the everyone is special, therefore it's your responsibility to treat everyone as such.

Yup, definitely the anti christ.

I wasn't insulting Christians in general. As Michael Lerner said, Jesus is one of my rabbis. I was making an assumption about Fox News viewers of all religions. To me, if your preferred entertainment is Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, etc., it's hard for me to imagine you have a kind heart.

And I wasn't being ironic about the entertainment industry. According to Rush and his ilk, what you do is not real work.

Hey now, Rush is funny!

Is that funny in a "demonize people with addiction problems while being one himself," kinda way, or a "Promoting hatred and fear of homosexuality," kinda way?

In a "how he sets up what he says" kind of way.

Well, yes, I know that Rush says that. I meant that I didn't think you believed it. (I'd also like to remind Rush that he's in the entertainment industry.)

I read the headline to this thread and wondered when Fox ran a story slandering me.

That video gave me really mixed feelings. On the one hand I was rather disgusted at how they targeted Mr. Rogers, a man who dedicated his life to children and bettering their lives. On the other hand, I agree that the whole culture of "everybody is special, everybody wins, everybody blah blah blah" isn't a good thing. One of the things that bothers me most about society today is the entitlement complex that so many people have, and I agree that that complex comes from teaching kids that they're all special little angels no matter what they do and that they all deserve to be treated special. But I don't believe that Mr Rogers is to blame for that at all. I grew up watching him (and Sesame Street) and they helped me feel confident, but not like some little Prince.

Terrible reporting there, but not completely off about some points, in my opinion.

ok - I haven't seen any of the vids - but honestly what's the problem of being special - should our leaders just be telling us "we are but anonymous tools in the machine of our nation" - I'm not up for that message either - though I am okay with "Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it"

I don't think everybody is special. I think everybody should strive to be special though 99% of us will fail. But it is the striving that is important. I do think that too many people think that their mere existence is somehow special. It could just be the mistaken (in my view) idea that "unique" - which we all are - and special are the same thing.

That thinking on my part has very little to do with Mr. Rogers, the validity of his show, or the evilness of his nature (I just found the show boring when I was a kid, no opinion on the value of his message then and not enough information for one now).

Because teaching kids that they're inherently special, no matter what, teaches them that they don't have to work to be special or achieve anything. They just grow up thinking, "Hey, I'm super special! Gimme gimme gimme!" I believe that it is better to teach kids that they're each unique, and that that is special, but that if they want to become something more, someone worthy of respect and honor, then they'll have to work hard and apply themselves in order to achieve success and earn that respect.

If you want to see the glaring consequences of indoctrinating kids into the "I'm special! I'm special!" cult, watch an episode of "My Super Sweet Sixteen." It's horrible.

The other side of that coin would be 'Jesus Camp'.:rolleyes:

While I mostly agree with Alex, I can tell you that there were children watching that show that only knew they were special because Mr. Rogers said so. These children most certainly did not grow up with the sense of entitlement that Jazzman's example portrays. The people who grew up with Mr. Rogers are the ones who are working and controlling and driving this nation, not the 16 year old spoiled brats. People like our Pres.......



Never mind.

In truth, Rogers chief message was not so much "You are special" (though he did often sing a song with just that sentiment), but rather "I like you just the way you are," a message of broad acceptance that I can't really find fault with. That and his closing message (You make every day special by just your being you) scarcely seem like a call to selfish entitlement to me. I honestly doubt Mister Rogers Neighborhood had any significant negative effect on anyone's development. At worst, maybe some obnoxious kid heard Mister Rogers say that and turned to his parents and said, "See? Mr. Rogers likes me just like I am." But I doubt that happened very often. At age five, I knew Mr. Rogers didn't really know me personally. The show still gave me a happy vibe.

And, really, I've been hearing about this "sense of entitlement" issue for as long as I've been sentient, and I'm sure it was around long before I got here. There have always been grade grubbers. There have always been unmotivated, want-something-for-nothing people. There always will be. Fred Rogers' genteel contribution to the culture doesn't even flick the needle on the causation meter.

This is just another way for parents to avoid taking responsibility for spoiling their kids.

I'm special; just like everyone else.

Here's your star for today for admitting your special like everyone else...

</sarcasm>

Still, sure we are all special in our own way, but why should we keep saying it if we are all equally special like Mister Rodgers said...

The blame was just shifted from where it belongs to him. Besides, research like this happens all the time and can be manipulated one direction or the other easily... I still say blame family, friends, role models... if they were all pushing the idea too, well they are equally to be blamed.

(Not all family, friends, and role models did this, just some...)

I went to an awards thing for my daughter at the end of school year. She was receiving two awards - no huge deal. There were maybe 40 awards for the entire 7th grade. She was getting a math award and an MVP award for her 7th grade basketball team.

What angered me is that in almost every award given to anyone, the presenter (typically a teacher) would offer up "This doesn't mean that other kids didn't deserve this award" or some other such crap. It cheapens accomplishment and rather than making those who aren't getting an award feel better, it makes the person who actually earned it seem like their accomplishment wasn't really that great.

I have a view of self esteem that while, yes, we are all unique and have something unique to offer, special is something that sets us apart, and that is something that is earned. My daughter works very hard at basketball and has become a special player because of that. There is no better feeling than working at something and becoming good at it. That is where true self esteem comes from - knowing that you can do it it through perseverence and hard work.

I don't think anyone here would disagree with what's being said about "being special" or self esteem. And the point is, neither would have Mr. Rogers. His message cannot be boiled down to his single catch phrase.

Family Communications (parent company for Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) have mounted a detailed defense on their homepage.

Don't Blame Fred

My dad once saw Mr. Rogers naked.

He (my dad) moved to Pittsburgh about 1990, and has related the story to me how shortly thereafter he joined an athletic club and one day walked into the showers, only to be confronted there by Mr. Rogers in the buff.

Anyway, no real relation to this thread, but I enjoy the story and wanted to relate it. Just don't let Fox News hear of it.

Now I've got an image of Mr. Rogers wearing nothing but a cardigan and sneakers.

I find myself wondering about the pigmentation of his genitalia

Yes, but NPR gets a pass because they meet their "progressive" story quota early every month;)

....and the radio too, starting with NPR;)

Thanks Jazz, that pretty much sums it up for me.


Elastic Girl: "Everyone's special Dash"
Dash: "..just another way of saying no one is"

On the flip side of all this is the people who say you only have value if you are a winning sports hero. That your wealth is the only measure of your value. That only people who work in industries they approve of are special, contributing human beings.

Bull crap.

As does every news source. It's a business about ratings. I don't find anything about Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan news worthy, but they are everywhere. Chris Matthews has Ann Coulter on and Elizabeth Edwards just happens to call in (even though the Matthews show never takes calls).

It's all about ratings.

Sometime this is my primary news site

:D