I love Mr. Rogers. He was the real deal, a joyful culture warrior who used his show to bring up issues not normally discussed with children: death, racism, assassination, divorce. He loved and respected the little ones and they knew it. But not only children... every person he met felt valued in his presence.His messages, no matter how serious, were never heavy handed. When debates occurred over integrating swimming pools, he did a show where he shared a wading pool and a towel with the black police officer in the neighborhood. When one of the actors on the show was found visiting a gay hangout, he let him know he couldn't do that and continue to be part of the neighborhood, but didn't fire him in outrage. The actor later said Fred Rogers felt like the dad he never had growing up. Did he change his behavior? I don't know, but I'm sure Rogers prayed for him.
