Protection of Children
"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has —or ever will have — something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."
- Fred Rogers (Fred Rogers Center)
- Fred Rogers (Fred Rogers Center)
"Conflict" aired amidst the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada and worldwide protests against nuclear weapons. Rogers took a stand for peace when Neighborhood teacher Ms. Cow reminded students: "War isn't nice... We've been very fortunate here in this Neighborhood of Make-Believe not to have any wars." - Ms. Harriett Elizabeth Cow 1983 (qtd. in Peaceful Neighbor) |
"Little did I know that we would be involved in world-wide conflict now... If children should hear the news of war, at least they have a handle here, to assist in family communications."
- Fred Rogers 1983 (Neighborhood Archive)
- Fred Rogers 1983 (Neighborhood Archive)
A thaw in U.S.-Soviet relations took Rogers and Daniel Striped Tiger to Moscow's show, Good Night, Little Ones in 1987. The first foreign guests in 23 years, they bonded with Tatiana Vedeneeva and Hryushka Pig. Three weeks after Vedeneeva visited WQED, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. It is remarkable that puppets became friends before American and Soviet leaders achieved agreement.
"Talk about the Holy Spirit moving. I tell you, there are times when you just
have to stand back in surprise."
- Fred Rogers 1987 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
have to stand back in surprise."
- Fred Rogers 1987 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Banner Image: News article on 'Puppet Detente' Nov. 24, 1987 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)