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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.
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