Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Insight from Mr. Rogers

Some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the "Neighborhood" at hours when some children cannot use it ... I have always felt that with the advent of all of this new technology that allows people to tape the "Neighborhood" off-the-air, and I'm speaking for the "Neighborhood" because that's what I produce, that they then become much more active in the programming of their family's television life. Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others. My whole approach in broadcasting has always been "You are an important person just the way you are. You can make healthy decisions." Maybe I'm going on too long, but I just feel that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important.

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What do you with the mad that you feel?
When you feel so mad you could bite.
When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong
and nothing you do seems very right.

What do you do?

Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?

Its great to be able to stop.
When you planned the thing thats wrong.
And do be able do something else instead.
And think this song:

I can stop when I want to
I can stop when I wish
Can stop stop stop anytime
And what a good feeling to feel like this
and know the feeling is really mine
Know there is something deep inside
That helps us become what we can
For a girl can someday a lady
and a boy can be someday a man.

—Frederick Rogers,