I recently saw a meme lamenting that Mr. Rogers didn’t properly prepare the author for their neighbors. How many of us can relate to that? I know I can.

All stories, documentaries, and observations prove that Fred Rogers was concerned about the conditions of the world, and the effects it had on the people – children specifically – in it.

His show had episodes addressing racism, terrorism, emotions, family relations, mental illness, you name it. Content was presented in a way for children (and many adults) to process their experiences and subsequent emotions regarding issues affecting them and their environment. Fred Rogers wanted children to know they were important and their feelings mattered.

Then we grew up. We grew up in a world that didn’t always reflect those values Mr. Rogers taught. We live in communities where not only don’t we know our neighbors, we don’t care to. We hide behind designer window treatments and privacy fences at home, and tinted windows in our cars. Smiling and speaking is seen as harassment (not to be confused with actual harassment), and we want to be accountable only for ourselves.

Racism continues to exist and seems to be on the rise despite the well-known fact that race is a social construct. The wealth gap continues to grow and divide with no reparations in sight. It’s no beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Terrorism is no longer considered an outside threat, it’s now more likely to be home-grown. Neighborhoods sound more like war zones than school zones. Recess has become a luxury at schools and a request at community meetings. It’s not a beautiful day for a neighbor.

The nuclear family has taken on so many different shapes that new vocabulary is regularly being developed to identify its members. We no longer recognize him as father; our relationships have transformed. I don’t have a sister anymore, would you be mine?

As a nation we are emotionally out of control. Our collective anger, fear, hatred, bigotry, and intolerance are spewed irresponsibly 140 characters at a time. All the time. No one says I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.

Mental illness has become a defense plea for murderers and a death sentence for the defenseless and often harmless. Former patients sent home with families ill equipped and unprepared to deal with obscure diagnosis and unaffordable medication. Homeless and invisible or intolerable to a society that wishes they’d just go away. Proclaiming the opposite of, I always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

We could learn some valuable lessons about building communities from the Dagara people of West Africa. In her book, The Spirit of Intimacy, Sobunfu Somé says, “Community is the spirit, the guiding light of the tribe, whereby people come together in order to fulfill their purpose, and to take care of one another.” She also shares that in her village the people spend more time outside with each other, helping each other and when you stay inside all day it’s an indication that something is wrong and people worry. Regarding this, Sister Somé says, “And so we can begin by going outside, talking to our neighbors and helping each other out.” Imagine that.

Mr. Rogers didn’t prepare us for a world where our neighbor Next Door is an app and we share news (usually bad), with each other through a Ring doorbell forum. He often referred to the commandment found in Mark 12:31 – love your neighbor as you love yourself, perhaps that’s where the problem begins – with the lack of love of self, and the lack of intrinsic goodness.

In his 1999 Television Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech Fred Rogers said, “But how do we make goodness attractive?” By doing whatever we can do to bring courage to those whose lives move near our own-by treating our “neighbor” at least as well as we treat ourselves and allowing that to inform everything that we produce.”

Can you imagine a world where we leave out of our doors with the thought to help each other? Communities where we are our brothers keeper? Where we treat our neighbors well and with dignity and respect? I can.

I create the possibility that in my neighborhood (for starters) we are indeed neighborly. We look out for each other, each other’s families, and each other’s property. We will value the lives of our neighbors and refuse to allow drugs and shootings. In my neighborhood our behavior is informed by the desire to treat each other at least as well as we treat ourselves. To care for the elderly, the children, and the pets of our neighbors. We will keep our community clean by not littering and picking up litter when we see it.

In my neighborhood we’ll make the most of each beautiful day, since we’re together we might as well say…I’m grateful you’re my neighbor. (The remix)

Love,

Robin ❤️

“I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?” ~ Mother Teresa