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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

Here is a letter I wrote to Mr. Rogers on 12-15-2000. He wrote a reply. He
read all of his mail and answered it personally.

Dear Mr. Rogers,

I am 50 years old (male). I did not begin watching your show until I was
in High School in the mid 1960's.

For the past several years, I have wanted to write you a letter of praise
and thanks.

Today, I saw your program on PBS Television, and I decided to search
the Internet, and find your email address.

When I was in high school, I would come home in the afternoon feeling
nervous and pressured by the academic demands placed upon me. I
would turn on your show, and instantly feel a calm and a peace, a
tranquility which your show and your personality inspires. Although I have
not had time to view your show regularly through the years, any time I
did tune in I always perceived this same atmosphere of peace and
tranquility. And also, I might add, a sense of moral and ethical strength,
of purity and integrity and most importantly EQUANIMITY (an even keeled
spirit in the face of all things).

Two years ago, I had to settle my late mother's estate near New Haven,
Connecticut, where I grew up and first saw your show. The day before I
sold the house that I grew up in, I saw my next door neighbor, now quite
elderly, making his way to his mailbox with his walker. I went to say
goodbye to him, explaining that the house was being sold. He had moved
into that neighborhood in 1955, when my parents bought that house
across the street from him. I grew up and went to school with his son. As
I said goodbye to him that day, the last thing he did was look at me with a
smile and a twinkle in his eye and he sang the beginning of your theme
song, "Won't you be my neighbor."

Obviously, many adults watch your show as well as children. I think this is
a great tribute to you and your program. The episode that I happened to
see today featured the young boy who was handicapped and in a
wheelchair. As I watched him, I realized how foolish I am sometimes in
my own life, feeling sorry for myself over the little problems and
frustrations that I experience. We all realize that there are those in this
world who face far greater problems, and face them from infancy onward,
and yet they manage to be courageous and optimistic about the blessings
that they do have. We all know this 'intellectually' but few of us know this
'emotionally'. I am quite certain that these are some of the very
messages which you seek to convey to your audience.

In my Internet search today, I came across some biographical material
about your own life and education. I had not realized that you pursued a
vocation in the ministry. But I am certainly not surpised to learn of your
religious background, since the feelings I have always had from your
show are ones of a deeply spiritual nature, yet totally free of any
sectarian or doctrinal overtones. I now realize that this too is a great
tribute to your success; to convey a spiritual message without appearing
'religious'. Perhaps that is the highest form of religion that there is.
Perhaps the very meekness, gentleness and compassion which you
convey every day in your program is a 'living icon' of that Personality
which you yearn to proclaim and about which you are perennially, tactfully
silent.

Several years ago, I noticed a news item that you were involved in some
litigation to protect your name from unauthorized misuse in the media. My
first thought was simple "Yes. He should. Mr. Roger's stands for
something important, and no one should wrongfully misuse that name or
image for purposes contrary to Mr. Roger's goals and standards."

I do hope that this little email of mine can reach you personally, Mr.
Rogers. I realize from reading your biographical info that you have no
shortage of awards and commendations for your life's work. You do not
know me personally, and yet you have been a part of my life since I was
very young. Yet even the holiest of temples is built up by individual
stones. I am sure you have touched the lives and hearts of several
generations now, young and old. And the seeds which you have patiently
sown these many years will surely take deep roots in the fabric of our
society for generations to come. And your values and ideas, so subtle and
tactful as to be almost subliminal, will shape our world for decades,
perhaps centuries to come.

I did not want to reach the end my life without having expressing my
thanks to you. Of course, many individuals touch our lives, especially in
this soon to end 20th century of unprecedented media and
communications explosion. Such personalities as yours and others
become perhaps larger than life, larger than your own individuality. I am
sure that the gravity of this responsibility, the weight of this public image,
has been trying for you at times. And yet, our world needs larger-than-life
heros and icons, even though we are "vessels of clay". I think St. Paul
wrote somewhere, "God places His treasures of gold in vessels of clay". I
just want you to know that there are people out here who know your job
has not been an easy one, living in the public eye, and you have surely
made your own personal sacrifices and suffered in order to achieve your
goals. But from where I stand, it looks like you have done your work
masterfully. I am quite certain in my heart that one day you will hear
those cherished words "Well done, good and faithful servant." If anyone
deserves to hear them, it is certainly you. You have been a shining
beacon in what is otherwise an often dark and sinister television medium.

God bless you Mr. Rogers! It has been an honor to know you over these
many years.

With warm wishes and best regards,

Sitaram

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