As the end credits rolled at the end of the 2018 documentary on American TV icon Fred Rogers ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’, I was instantly reminded of a quote, “Being a beacon of hope is a lonely business”.
Well, yes and no.
Fred Rogers certainly wasn’t alone, for he held the love and affection of everyone regardless of the target demographic. The word ‘demographic’ itself might sound a little crude while talking about Mr.Rogers. He believed people were people, inherently good, special and full of love.
Sadly, it is true that Fred Rogers’s philosophy of kindness in today’s dog-eat-dog world comes off as a self-styled narcissism with a horrible sense of entitlement. Some might even go as far as to call it a ‘cheeseball’ sentiment, as was debated in the documentary. Regardless, there was something about this man that made generations of people want to sit in front of the television and hear him talk to and through them.
I didn’t grow up with Fred Rogers and ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood’, but it takes no rocket scientist to see, or even feel, the infinite tenderness he approached life with. His child-like exuberance, a deep understanding of children, delightfully colorful cardigans, along with his puppets, lifted the spirits of kids across four decades. Quite ahead of his time, he was not afraid to talk about matters that left him feeling uneasy and share his catharsis with viewers.
The documentary ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ beautifully pieces together Fred Rogers’ legacy like a colorful collage in a kid’s scrapbook. It captures his indomitable spirit, effortless brilliance, cheerfulness, grief, and unwavering faith in his beliefs. As the documentary came to an end, I was reminded of the fact that one can never outgrow the inner child that resides in all of us. To be in touch with it doesn’t make us weak, but bright and wonderful.