Media Notes

The Coke commercials on TV with the polar bear family making a snowman are not very PC and they are GREAT!  There is a male and a female and three kids working together and together admiring their work.  It is good family picture!

Also, it is a very traditional family for the big bear is the male and the head and the smaller is “Mom” and he has his arm around her – not the other way around nor the kids between them yet the kids right there huddled-up with Dad and Mom.  It is good picture!  Thanks, Coke!

Then there is the movie about Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood starring Tom Hanks (the man is a fabulous actor – just wish he were saved).  While it is great to highlight an American icon who served many homes and children well for many years, it is sad that his faith is not presented (per what I have read).  Most likely, his greatest asset was his belief in God yet that is expunged leaving the viewer a false take on the man.  (I hope he was truly saved!  In all the times I took in the show, I never had a since he had personal faith in Jesus.  Rather, he was a God fearer and sought to please God throughout life. I read that he daily read his Bible.  He was an ordained minister.)  Yet, he exuded Godly attributes to his neighbors, visitors, and us in his camera.

We were Mr. Rogers’ people and not Sesame Street fans.  One thing that marked Mr. Rogers was that the star was a kind, gentle, personal (making eye contact and talking directly to the camera – his people), and male leader in his “home” and in his neighborhood.  So many homes are void of a such a male these days and all homes are in desperate need of such.  Also noteworthy was that year after year the support cast were the same – including the jazz pianist.  The Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood and world was stable with people engaging and serving one another.  How good was that?

Then there was a splash of make-believe which is also good.  The program was not given to make-believe but each program had some – the puppets, king, queen, and castle.  We all play make-believe (and dream some make-believe) and honestly need some make-believe.  Make-believe opens up another world which is a good set up for God, angels, and Heaven.  The make-believe portion added to life’s reality without portraying all of life as make-believe which is what many people do – their world is not realistic: that eternal things don’t matter, that money fixes all things, that a pill fixes most problems, that debt is OK, etc.

Also, Mr. Rogers was shot with a single camera eliminating scenes flashing back and forth.

[I believe part of the ADHD issue with our kids today is due to scenes changing every 3 seconds or so (movies, TV, video games, and even a football game – the camera does not stay on the huddle but after each play there are immediate replays or other shots.)   Most Mr. Rogers’ scenes were long takes lending to time to ponder and absorb.  Children need to sit with a book and with a parent often daily and be still to listen, to ponder, to talk about little things – the picture on the wall, the bird in the yard, the words to a song, the blessings of people, etc.  Too many children are baby-sat in front of television and have little or no slow or still time.  Mr. Rogers s-l-o-w-e-d life downnnnnnn and made us ponder – Humm!  Thank you, Mr. Rogers!

Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood and friends were great!