"Rogers, you have the floor."

Mr. Fred McFeely Rogers died February 27, 2003. It is still such a loss.

Watch this video:

"I give an expression of care every day, to each child. To help him realize that he is unique."

Who doesn't have meaningful, lasting childhood memories of Mr. Rogers? Here he is, talking about the thing about which he is most passionate. He stood up on Capitol Hill in the 60's and was talking about the effects of television on the mental health of children. He was defending the things that mattered most to him, still a relative unknown (how many senators today do you think wouldn't know of him?). He was just such an incredible man. And he cared so much about the improvement of television, about children, about the world.

And because I am on a Mr. Rogers kick, I also suggest you read this list of fun facts about him. If you're not as big of a fan and don't feel like reading it all, my favorite is the following:

"As an ordained Presbyterian minister, and a man of tremendous faith, Mister Rogers preached tolerance first. Whenever he was asked to castigate non-Christians or gays for their differing beliefs, he would instead face them and say, with sincerity, 'God loves you just the way you are.'"

That's just so him. Even if you're not religious, you can still see the amount of respect and acceptance he had for everyone--which is what religion is supposed to be, isn't it? And it's what people should do. To give a "meaningful expression of care." To care.

They also link to this biography at the bottom of the article, which is very long but also well worth reading. And emotional. I need to get some sleep.

There's no person in the whole world like you, Mr. Rogers.