A new movie starring Tom Hanks is due to be released later this year based on the life Fred Rogers, more commonly known as 'Mr. Rogers', who presented a preschool television show between 1968 and 2001 called Mister Rogers' Neighbourhood.
Rogers, who was a Presbyterian minister, was a beloved icon to children for decades in the United States, for his nurturing and kindly persona which resonated with audiences both young and old.
A trailer for the new movie has just been released and gave the internet many feelings but a viral Twitter thread from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, which explained why his approach to religion and theology was so unique and groundbreaking.
Ruttenberg details how Rogers incorporated Christian ethics into the programme that anyone could learn from, regardless of their faith, and how the show wasn't scared of tackling difficult subjects but did so in a compassionate and earnest manner.
While you're in your Mr. Rogers feels, a few things to remind you about his radical theology. 1/x He was a Pres… https://t.co/t8gEURP6F5— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563816288
That looked like this: “To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right her… https://t.co/AAFCg8I2X5— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563816356
It looked like this: King Friday Establishes Border Guard -- The very first episode in 1968, while the Vietnam W… https://t.co/Y4dXVCR9vJ— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563816599
As swimming pool integration became a major issue, he washed his and François Clemmons/Officer Clemmons' feet toget… https://t.co/oNp91ytORD— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563816729
"What does assassination mean?" after the murder of RFK in 1968. Again, naming true things and simply holding spac… https://t.co/t7YdOUFLev— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563816822
It should also be noted that Francois Clemmons was gay. Rev. Rogers told him to stay away from gay bars at the tim… https://t.co/ylJRuvCIbl— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817033
I see this as a gesture of love and trying to protect Clemmons and his livelihood, and role on the show. And of cou… https://t.co/oa9AmdHBok— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817211
Rev. Rogers has been quoted as saying, “Well, you know, I must be right smack in the middle. Because I have found w… https://t.co/E74ylPPXXO— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817352
But the entirety of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood can be summed up as: Cultivate empathy. Be curious. It’s ok to hav… https://t.co/XCQlQ03uOj— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817432
I believe Fred Rogers tried to love each and every one of us the way he believed God loves each and every one of us… https://t.co/38m7OSnS62— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817511
And that his job was to wait patiently for, and to make open space for, the answer: Heneni. Here I am. Wouldn'… https://t.co/i7XZWQv71P— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817583
Here's some of his work aimed at grownup. You can just YouTube for his commencement speeches and get fuel for your… https://t.co/Qs6QyX8MEV— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817784
He sounds just like he does on the TV show, right? No major difference in how he is speaking to adults and childre… https://t.co/1RZAAvtVLL— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563817891
"Deep down, we know what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping o… https://t.co/JPhPyymPds— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563818016
The implications of Rev. Rogers teachings on our society are truly radical. The things he offered to children--t… https://t.co/ntRTsnpYZI— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563818135
Know that you are loved. Now go out there and do something that shows how loving your neighbor as yourself can ma… https://t.co/exOuY7VsfF— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1563819724
After Ruttenberg's thread got more than 27,000 retweets, she told Bored Pandawhy she believes Mr. Rogers and what he taught children is still so important.
He offered unconditional love. He told children that who they were already was good [enough]. That it was OK to be sad or scared or hurt or angry. He took them and their needs seriously. So few people in most children’s lives were doing that. People love him because he offered them something they desperately needed.
Our society has long treated people as only valuable if they are useful in some way, and we are trending towards increased polarisation, increased us/them rhetoric, increased use of dehumanizing language and policies. If we built a society based on the inherent worth and worthiness of every person, things would be very different.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is set for release in November.
HT Bored Panda