this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2025
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[–] pjwestin@lemmy.world 92 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (13 children)

...so this is some real pedantic shit I'm about to do here, and I apologize in advance, but that's the wrong picture. François Clemmons was on the show between 1968 and 1993. The original episode where they share a pool aired in 1969, and both men were much younger. The picture above is from Clemmons final appearance on the show in 1993, titled "Love," where they again share a foot pool. I know this because my toddler has become Mr. Rogers obsessed and I've seen the 1993 episode 3 dozen times in the last month.

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[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 125 points 6 days ago (6 children)

The image misses part of the story. He was a character on the show, officer Clemmons, and wasn't just on this episode. And what's more, he was gay and Fred Rogers knew and accepted him for it at a time that that was uncommon. This image makes it seem like a single random act of impersonal kindness but it was much more than that.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 29 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Lovely interview with (Officer) Francois Clemmons. Clemmons grew up during civil rights unrest and was firehosed and beaten by cops and did not want to play one on TV. I don't know if making kids less scared of cops was a good thing or not, but I know Mr. Rogers' heart was in the right place.

https://youtu.be/UD7Z-O7U33c

The song at the end is the one Clemmons sang while they were hanging out in the pool the second time they did this scene 20 years after the first one: "There are many ways to say I love you." In this one Mr. Rogers dried Officer Clemmons' feet as they were getting out of the pool.

[–] iamanurd@midwest.social 14 points 6 days ago

There’s a rapper named prof that did a pretty spot on Mr Roger’s imitation in one of his videos. They included a different take on this scene, but I had no idea that they were referencing an actual Mr Roger’s video with that part until just now.

https://youtu.be/iDaUy4T7rVI

[–] Mustakrakish@lemmy.world 29 points 6 days ago

Also better that he just played a cop, instead of actually being one

[–] pancakes@sh.itjust.works 22 points 6 days ago

Classic Mr. Rogers story that when you dig deeper, it's even more wholesome than initially presented.

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[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 143 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Your reminder that Fox News hated Mister Rogers and everything he believed.

https://youtu.be/29lmR_357rA

[–] orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts 66 points 6 days ago

That’s when you know you’re winning.

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[–] ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com 81 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] takeda@lemm.ee 107 points 6 days ago (15 children)

No need, he only played a cop on the show, his real occupation was singer, actor & lecturer.

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 71 points 6 days ago (4 children)

it's funny. anyone who actually watched Mr Rogers should know what I'm about to say.

he didn't want everybody to be just like him. he wanted to inspire children to be better versions of themselves.

frankly, I'm not a nice person. never want to be, but I do try to be a good person.

[–] orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts 35 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

I grew up on Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross, etc. They’re a big part of what shaped me and made me empathetic. I live a good life but the world around me (the US) is determined to make me bitter and angry, and it’s an everyday struggle to keep my mind above water.

I know if he were around today, he would still manage to always keep a cool head and a grounded spirit, despite knowing where this country is headed.

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[–] ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world 44 points 6 days ago (5 children)

"Two dudes chilling in a hot tub, two feet apart cause they're not racist."

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[–] valkyrieangela@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 5 days ago (4 children)

It really hits different to know that this was only about 56 years ago. Societal change happens extremely slowly.

[–] CheeseToastie@lazysoci.al 13 points 5 days ago

I know! I'm in my 40s and queer, I'm always stunned by how different young people's attitudes are to lgbt now.

[–] TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee 10 points 5 days ago

And we are unfortunately vulnerable to regression. It's sad to think that if Mr Rogers was around today his show would probably be attached to an executive order to have his funding cut.

I don't know if a similar show would be influential in today's media market. Not just because it would be considered "woke" by half the population, but because the content would be like watching paint dry for a lot of kids.

I think a big part of learning empathy is wrapped up in learning how to be patient, and how to appreciate someone's company enough to allot them your time and attention. I just don't think people value patience very much anymore and wonder if our media reflects that or it's vice versa.

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[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 37 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Almost exactly 56 years ago when Senators were cutting PBS budgets because they don't understand the importance of childhood education and mental health

https://youtu.be/fKy7ljRr0AA

[–] Scrollone@feddit.it 45 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Oh trust me, they do understand the importance of education. That's why they cut funding.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago

How can children get a well-rounded education without walls of ads?

[–] tenchiken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 51 points 6 days ago

Some people just want to watch the world learn...

[–] caboose2006@lemm.ee 15 points 6 days ago

We need 100,000 more Mr. Rogers in the world. 1,000,000 more.

[–] Vraylle@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 6 days ago

And republicans have never forgiven him for this.

[–] thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

Remember, Mr Rogers was a good neighbor. He was also a marine scout sniper. He wouldn't have put up with the shit that's happening now.

[–] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago
  1. And people will say "stop making things about race" as if it's over.
[–] seeigel@feddit.org 12 points 6 days ago (4 children)

That segregation, was that in the entire USA? How was it introduced for the entire USA when the North fought for the freedom of the black population?

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Don't get it twisted. There were plenty of people who were against slavery but still deeply racist. There was a big movement among abolitionists to send all the black folks back to Africa. That's how Liberia was founded.

[–] Hexarei@programming.dev 11 points 6 days ago

Yep, a lot of folks were racist and just pro-union.

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[–] drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world 13 points 6 days ago

Because the leaders of the confederate were allowed to live

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[–] takeda@lemm.ee 15 points 6 days ago (2 children)

So it is hot, Mr Rogers and neighboring cop are cooling their feet. Can someone tell me why Mr Rogers is still wearing a sweater? Is he taking the name literally?

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 35 points 6 days ago

Can someone tell me why Mr Rogers is still wearing a sweater?

Because he's Mr. Rogers.

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