In perhaps the best news of the day the US Post Office honors Mr. Rogers with a stamp.

Courtesy of WLOX:

It was a beautiful day to honor Mister Rogers with a postage stamp. 

The U.S. Postal Service on Friday released a stamp featuring Fred Rogers, the gentle TV host who entertained and educated generations of preschoolers on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." 

The stamp pictures Rogers in his trademark cardigan along with King Friday, a puppet character from the show's Neighborhood of Make-Believe sketch. 

A dedication ceremony was held at the Pittsburgh studio where Rogers filmed his beloved PBS show, which aired between 1968 and 2001. Rogers died in 2003 at age 74. 

Among those attending were Rogers' widow, Joanne, and David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely, the deliveryman on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

I can hardly wait to buy my Mr. Rogers stamps so that I can send a little love and tolerance out into the world.

I have actually been thinking about Mr. Rogers quite a bit recently and often wish that he were still around to help offset so much of the hatred and intolerance that we are seeing today.

But then again just imagine how thrilled he would be with the activism of the Parkland students.

By the way for those who are missing Fred Rogers as I am, there is a new documentary about him coming out on June 8th.

Here is the trailer.

You know there are days when I miss this man more than others. Today is one of them.

You know I would like to see a law passed that forced Congress to watch an hour of Mr. Rogers a day before they were allowed to write or vote on any legislative bill.

This school knows how to educate young children.

Courtesy of DNA Info:  

A public elementary school is abolishing traditional homework assignments and telling kids to play instead — outraging parents who say they may pull their kids out of the school. 

Teachers at P.S. 116 on East 33rd Street have stopped assigning take-home math worksheets and essays, and are instead encouraging students to read books and spend time with their family, according to a letter the school’s principal, Jane Hsu, sent to parents last month. 

“The topic of homework has received a lot of attention lately, and the negative effects of homework have been well established,” Hsu wrote in her letter, which was sent home with students. 

“They include: children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.” 

Hsu explained that the school spent more than a year "analyzing studies focused on the effects of traditional homework" and decided that it was more important for the Pre-K through fifth grade students to do activities that “have been proven to have a positive impact on student academic performance and social/emotional development” such as reading at their own pace and playing. 

"In fact, you may be surprised to learn that there have been a variety of studies conducted on the effects of homework in the elementary grades and not one of them could provide any evidence that directly links traditional homework practices with current, or even future, academic success."

How can it be so hard for people to understand this? 

If you push children too hard, too early, they will simply end up dropping out of school before they can graduate from high school. Which is what we are seeing now.

Remember this?

This is one of the most spot on quotes I have ever seen concerning children.

Mr. Rogers understood children on a fundamental level, and HE understood that you want to raise fully realized and well developed adults you let them learn through play as children.

If you want to create mindless, uninspired cogs in a machine, you force them to sit in desks and teach to the test.

My hope is that other schools will see the success of this New York school and follow their example.

Some days I really miss Fred Rogers.

An absolutely perfect statement.

Today we try to start our children's education almost the moment that they open their eyes for the first time, but the fact is that their play IS their education for the formative years.

They learn about their bodies, their environment, their limitations, how to engage with others, how to share their belongings, essentially how to be human beings.

The rest of their learning will go on for the rest of their lives, and hopefully there will always be some time to play. But as a child that is really their most important job.

Mr. Rogers says good-bye.

If only most Christians could be as non-judgmental and accepting as this man I think the religion might not only survive, but flourish in the decades to come.

Mr. Rogers had a truly authentic morality that many people claim to possess, but so few actually do.

Mr. Rogers makes everything better.

Final photo of the day.

Oh to have been around to witness this meeting.

I bet their discussion was filled with kindness, humility, and mutual respect.

To end our day here are 6 amazing facts about Mr. Rogers to help you love him even more.

Courtesy of Ned Hardy:

1. He basically saved public television. In 1969 the government wanted to cut public television funds. Mister Rogers then went to Washington where he gave an amazing merely six minute speech. By the end of the speech not only did he charm the hostile Senators, he got them to double the budget they would have initially cut down. The whole thing can be found on youtube, a video called “Mister Rogers defending PBS to the US Senate.” 

2. “Certain fundamentalist preachers hated him because, apparently not getting the “kindest man who ever lived” memo, they would ask him to denounce homosexuals. Mr. Rogers’s response? He’d pat the target on the shoulder and say, “God loves you just as you are.” Rogers even belonged to a “More Light” congregation in Pittsburgh, a part of the Presbyterian Church dedicated to welcoming LGBT persons to full participation in the church.” 

3. According to a TV Guide piece on him, 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.” 

4. Once, on a fancy trip up to a PBS exec’s house, he heard the limo driver was going to wait outside for 2 hours, so he insisted the driver come in and join them (which flustered the host). On the way back, Rogers sat up front, and when he learned that they were passing the driver’s home on the way, he asked if they could stop in to meet his family. According to the driver, it was one of the best nights of his life—the house supposedly lit up when Rogers arrived, and he played jazz piano and bantered with them late into the night. Further, like with the reporters, Rogers sent him notes and kept in touch with the driver for the rest of his life. 

5. 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! 

6. Once while rushing to a New York meeting, there were no cabs available, so Rogers and one of his colleagues hopped on the subway. Esquire reported that the car was filled with people, and they assumed they wouldn’t be noticed. But when the crowd spotted Rogers, they all simultaneously burst into song, chanting "It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood." The result made Rogers smile wide.

I have said it before, but it always bears repeating that if ALL Christians conducted their lives as Fred Rogers conducted his, I would constantly seek out their company and do everything in my power to protect their religious freedom.

Yesterday somebody mentioned that at times like these it would really be nice if we could still be comforted by Mr. Rogers. I could not agree more.

Well I feel better, how about all of you?

And do you know what? I think Mr. Rogers advice is for adults too.

After all it is not only children that sometimes feel the need to be comforted.

Something to keep in mind as we help each other deal with the shock and the fear left over from yesterday's tragedy.

Mr. Rogers offers words of comfort from another troubling time in America's past.

I'm reaching the point in the aftermath of this tragedy where I am becoming numb.

I know that it is important to continue the dialogue, and hopefully push our politicians into working on a solution, but I am just tired of wiping away tears and feeling helpless.

At times like that I can think of no better voice to hear delivering calm, rational, comforting words than Fred Rogers.

This was from right after 9-11 but I think it applies equally as well today.

I think that it is appropriate that our final words today come from Fred Rogers.

If ever we needed the wisdom of a Mr. Rogers in this country, the time is now.

In response to Mitt Romney's desire to cut funding to PBS, perhaps somebody needs to send him this video of Mr. Rogers explaining its importance before the Senate in 1969.

I don't think that ANYBODY was as eloquent a defender of PBS than Fred Rogers.

Having said that THIS is what the "Reading Rainbow's" Levar Burton had to say about Romney's remarks:  

“I am personally outraged that any serious contender for the White House would target as part of his campaign the children of America in this fashion,” said the actor, who appeared in the TV movie based on Alex Haley’s book Roots, and played the beloved character Geordi La Forge on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” 

“Educators across the country, as well as millions of children and adults know that the programming on PBS has been responsible for significant improvements in education, literacy, math, science and life skills for generations of our children,” he said. 

Though Mr Roger's said it with more eloquence, and his customary gentle demeanor, I tend to feel more in line with Levar Burton's perspective.

Let's face it Romney does not care about the education of children in this country, because well educated children, turn into well educated adults, and well educated adults DON'T vote for Republicans. Period!

Continuing forward with honoring my favorite Christian, Mr. Fred Rogers, I thought you all might enjoy this heartwarming video of the day he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

This from the YouTube site:

Fred Rogers' induction into the TV Critics' Television Hall of Fame is especially touching when Jeff Erlanger, who had visited on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood as a boy in a wheelchair, surprises Fred by making the presentation on stage. Addressing the audience of television celebrities and producers, Fred speaks of his great respect for and understanding of the power of television—"How do we make goodness attractive?"

Did you see Mr. Roger's face light up when he sees Jeff Erlanger?  He did not even hesitate, but recognized him immediately, and climbed up on the stage like a little boy rushing off to play with his pal from next door.  That is his "neighbor" from next door.

You know from now I wish that Christians would stop wearing those bracelets that say "WWJD?" (What Would Jesus Do?)and instead wear bracelets that say "WWMRD?" (What Would Mr. Rogers Do?)

I'm just saying.

Presenting the Mr. Rogers mashup. SO much cooler than you can imagine. Update!

From the description on YouTube:

When we discovered video mash-up artist John D. Boswell, aka melodysheep, on YouTube, we immediately wanted to work together. Turns out that he is a huge Mister Rogers Neighborhood fan, and was thrilled at the chance to pay tribute to one of our heroes. Both PBS and the Fred Rogers Company hope you like John's celebration of Fred Rogers' message. 

If you like this video, please support your local PBS station.

Okay I am not even sure exactly WHY but this made me tear up to the point that I had to stop the video to wipe my eyes more than once. So much for Gryphen earning man points today!

I have said it before, but it bears repeating, Fred Rogers is my all time favorite Christian.

I seriously doubt we will ever see his like again. But my, what a gift he left to all of us!

Update: I am sorry that some of you did not enjoy the video, I found it delightful.

Of course I know that all of you like Mr. Rogers, whether this mashup is your cup of tea or not, unlike Fox News who thought he was an evil, evil man.

Perhaps my all time favorite Christian.

A Presbyterian minister who constantly told everybody, including Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Atheists, that he liked them "Just the way you are."

I actually discovered Mr. Rogers as a young adult.

I was working with children after I graduated from high school and sometimes there would be time set aside for educational television for those that wanted to watch.

The choices were always PBS which would show Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Reading Rainbow, and the Electric Company back to back.

Since I was still very young and really just entering adulthood, I did not immediately take to Mr. Rogers.  I thought his slow way of speaking and running explanation of everything he was doing was kind of creepy and a little strange. But it did not take long for me to notice that the younger children responded in a very profound way to his show, and I learned to not only respect his message but even to recognize the value of how carefully he explained things so that the children would understand.

And if you think that his methods only worked with children then I invite you to watch Mr. Rogers in 1969, appearing before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His goal then was to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in response to significant proposed cuts by President Nixon.

Watch how he turns a combative Senator John Pastore into a supporter of PBS, and children's broadcasting, in less than seven minutes.

Fred Rogers did not judge those who did not share his faith, or use his program to proselytize to the innocent children who adored him. He simply lived his life as he felt his faith dictated that he do, and just look at the positive impact he had on us all.

I only wish that when I pictured Christianity today that it was Fred Rogers kind open face that imagined, instead of Franklin Graham's, or James Dobson's, or Rick Santrorum's.

But it's not.

I posted recently about how awesome Mr. Rogers was and how much we miss him. But that was before I saw his dark side.

Mr. Rogers is our harmless neighborhood friend children.

UNTIL HE DONS HIS HIDEOUS CLOWN MASK AND DEVOURS YOUR LITTLE SOULS!!

Damn it! And I had just stopped having those scary clown nightmares too!

Oh well it is back to therapy for me.

15 things that prove that Mr. Rogers may have been the Mahatma Gandhi of North America.

I always made fun of Mr. Rogers when I was in my 20's.

God I was a tool.

This is my favorite one of the fifteen:

5. He might have been the most tolerant American ever. Mister Rogers seems to have been almost exactly the same off-screen as he was onscreen. As an ordained Presbyterian minister, and a man of tremendous faith, Mister Rogers preached tolerance first.
Whenever he was asked to castigate non-Christians or gays for their differing beliefs, he would instead face them and say, with sincerity, "God loves you just the way you are." Often this provoked ire from fundamentalists.

If you wonder why kids today feel entitled to special treatment blame Mr. Rogers.

Fred Rogers, the late TV icon, told several generations of children that they were "special" just for being whoever they were. He meant well, and he was a sterling role model in many ways. But what often got lost in his self-esteem-building patter was the idea that being special comes from working hard and having high expectations for yourself.

Now Mr. Rogers, like Dr. Spock before him, has been targeted for re-evaluation. And he's not the only one. As educators and researchers struggle to define the new parameters of parenting, circa 2007, some are revisiting the language of child ego-boosting. What are the downsides of telling kids they're special? Is it a mistake to have children call us by our first names? When we focus all conversations on our children's lives, are we denying them the insights found when adults talk about adult things?

I am also a critic of the "everybody wins" method of child development. It does not adequately prepare children for those times that they will fail. We all have to fail. Whether it is not getting the job we want, or the girl we want, or the life we want. And wouldn't it be better to throw our tantrums when we are three, four, and five, and not twenty one or thirty years old?

But nobody gets to make Fred Rogers a scapegoat! Mr. Rogers did not raise these children, he simply provided a safe and loving program that talked about our feelings and acceptance. If parents sat their children in front of the television to be parented by whatever program came on then that is the parents fault, not Mr. Rogers!

That is like blaming children's aggression on the antics of Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry. I watched those programs religiously and so far I have not shot anybody in the face with a shotgun nor blown up a mouse with dynamite. (Though one has to wonder if Dick Cheney was an Elmer Fudd fan.)

Fred Rogers was an amazing individual who brought joy and music and understanding to millions of children. Period.