Michael Long (7)

I love books where I learn something new about something I already have a fairly great grasp of knowledge on. This was one of those books. I am and have been a huge fan of Fred Rogers. I grew up with him, so to write, and have followed him way into the time where it was no longer appropriate to watch kids TV shows. There was just something about the man.

I also knew that he was an ordained preacher and often his theology would bleed into his shows. This book is about his theology and how he used his show to spread a message primarily about peace, but would also slip in peace through faith.

What I enjoyed is that the book isn't only about Fred, but also about the supporting characters from the show and how they fit into the theology plan of Fred. Some the characters challenged Mr Rogers to go further with his message than he did, while others threatened to quit if he didn't pursue other paths. This is what I enjoyed the most about the book. It wasn't just about the TV show, but about the message of hope, love, and people that was more important for Mr Rogers and the cast.

I would keep this at a solid 4 stars, but will also note this might not be for everybody. It is a theology book overall and I found some parts pretty dry and a few repetitive. Worth it in the long run though.… (plus d'informations)

Even by the author's standards, "countercultural" seems a bit of a stretch. I think a better subtitle might have been "Discovering the not-so-light-and-fluffy Fred Rogers" (I don't actually think that's a good subtitle, but my point will be made in a moment).

Fred Rogers was, by all accounts, a hugely decent human being who used his primary platform (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) to address pressing issues in a subtle way. As someone who grew up watching the show, it did make me want to go back and rewatch episodes that are now contextualized in a different way. Michael Long does provide a mild critique, so the book is more even-handed than I expected, but readers/listeners should be aware that is very much couched in progressive Christian advocacy, in particular Chapter 4 (A Theology of Peace). Given that Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian minister, that didn't bother me, but the tone/aim of the book blurs in a few places. For the most part, however, Long is careful not to glorify the man, and reveals tensions between Betty Aberlin (who played Lady Aberlin on the show) and Rogers when the latter, for example, refused to move beyond subversive messaging about the Gulf War. His friendship and professional relationship with opera singer Francois Clemmons receives a bit more nuance and goes beyond the well-known anecdote of when the two shared a foot soak on a hot summer's day. Here's one example where "countercultural" seems excessive--while "tolerant" (and more so than many) of Clemmons' sexuality, Rogers initially criticized Clemmons for behavior that might anger the more conservative watchers of the show (namely being seen at a gay bar) and worried that he would lose the audience he was trying to impact. It is worth noting that Clemmons maintained a deep relationship with Rogers for many years, but admitted that Rogers refused to use the show to make any kind of statement in support of homosexuals, as well as refusing to have "Officer Clemmons" and Lady Aberlin (if memory serves) marry as an interracial couple. The tensions here are presented evenly without melodrama, but Clemmons' pain is palpable and understandable in the narrative.

There are also interesting stories about Rogers' activism outside of the show. His use of Daniel Striped Tiger in negotiation with Soviet adults supports Long's primary point that Rogers was fully committed to his work and the use of storytelling to promote peace. While my memories of the puppets are blurry, it was fascinating to have Lady Elaine Fairchilde--whom I remember finding reasonably unsettling--and even Queen Sara Saturday, re-contextualized as semi-feminist icons. Long notes that Queen Saturday's wedding vows, as well as her choice to keep her name (instead of taking King Friday's name) were not commonly accepted at the time.

What's really good about the book is that it manages to celebrate Rogers without glossing over his flaws, such as his relativism when it came to violence against animals (Rogers was an ardent vegetarian, but failed to speak against animals in captivity (e.g. Shamu)). One gets the sense that Rogers always tried to live toward an ideal, very much shaped by his faith and upbringing, but had trouble negotiating that with reality sometimes. It is valuable to get the longview. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood first aired in 1968, with its final episode (of 0ver 900) on August 31, 2001. Long divides the book into two parts: Part One - War and Peace in the Neighborhood and Part Two - Peace as More Than the Absence of War. Some of the chapters work better than others, but Rogers use of puppetry, narrative and music to advocate for pacifism is undeniable. The subtopics of pacifism are the main points of organization, rather than a chronological narrative, and this is mostly effective, although I did tire of hearing "when seen in context" since that seemed for me the reason to read/listen to the book in the first place. George Newbern's reading is calm, not unlike Rogers himself, but occasionally amplifies the Christian guise of the book (not a problem or surprising for a Westminster John Knox Press publication). My criticism is just that the book is MORE than "theology according to Fred Rogers" and even those outside of Christian belief systems might enjoy the text.… (plus d'informations)

I received an ARC copy of this e-book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As I was reading this very thoughtful and deeply theological book I realized that I was not the right audience for this—sort of like I had accidentally wandered into the wrong movie. I was looking for a biography with some insight into Fred Roger’s philosophy/theology. I am a huge fan of this man and feel that he is one of those few people that left the world a better place than he found it. What I got was a thoughtful and deep exploration of his theology with biographical facts along the way. I would say that if you are looking for a biography (as I was) then look elsewhere; if you enjoy theology and its impact on US politics (of 70’s and 80’s in particular) then this book is for you.

I learned that Roger’s philosophy and his theology are not separable. I didn’t know that he was an ordained minister but it didn’t surprise me. I started this book thinking of Rogers as a gentle and enlightened man of grace and substance yet emerged from this realizing that he was tougher than I knew and that that he was as much a fighter for his ideals as he was a leader by example. Rogers, always from his perspective of protecting and nurturing children, considered war to be the most heinous act of child abuse possible and he was not above taking people, especially world leaders, to task for not working for peace.
… (plus d'informations)

Review: Peaceful Neighbor Peaceful Neighbor: Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers * Michael G. LongI received an ARC copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.I have always loved and appreciated Fred Rogers as a gentle soul, who wanted us to love each other and treat each other with kindness and compassion. Everything I learned only made me appreciate him more--and this book, opening my eyes to his Christianity-based politics, was the icing on the cake.
 
Even as a child, I knew Rogers' inclusion of Francois Clemmons, the African-American police officer as a Mister Rogers' Neighborhood went against the social grain. From this book, I learned Clemmons was the first African-American with a regular role on a children's television series, joining before Northern Calloway (David), Matt Robinson (Gordon), and Loretta Long (Susan) on Sesame Street. I also learned Clemmons' hiring was a deliberate--loving, but deliberate--act, especially the wading pool scenes with him. Those shared soaking scenes were in direct protest to segregated swimming pools, and violent responses to integrated pools.
 
Mister Rogers resisted pressure from certain cast members to be more visibly and aggressively political, because they felt his responsibility was to his children and family audience; his neighborhood needed to be a quiet, safe place of learning, the one place in their lives where protests were not taking place, where no one was shouting, and where no one was making frightening ultimatums. Michael Long's book touched me, as a child of the '70's, in so many ways. This book would make a nice addendum to high school and college courses covering 1960's and 1970's cultural and social history. Highly recommended.
 
interview with Clemmons on NPR StoryCorps
my original post… (plus d'informations)