The Power of Non-Violent Communication

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• Submitted by MarkTwain© on August 13, 2017 at 11:08 pm

  "I think it's wonderful."

  Senator Pastore began with what seemed like a mocking tone: “Alright Rogers, you’ve got the floor,” with the sound of colleagues tittering in the background. Fred Rogers may have been nervous, but he stayed on message: not just explaining how his program models positive ways to deal with anger, but actually doing it right there in the Senate hearing.

  I think that Mr. Rogers reached Senator Pastore’s inner child with a message of acceptance and affirmation: “I like you just the way you are,” and encouraging this inner child’s understanding that, even when he is angry, he has the power to choose to respect himself and others.

  I was rather surprised and delighted to see that the short wikipedia article on John O. Pastore prominently featured his encounter with Mr. Rogers.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O._Pastore

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  • Submitted by cgrotke on August 14, 2017 at 6:39 am

    Influence

    I was recently thinking about how much I owe to Mr. Rogers. Things on his show have worked their way into my life in small ways:

    – I enjoy getting mail. His show featured a regular mailman bringing all sorts of things.

    – I like baking. There was an episode where he went to a bakery and saw how cakes were decorated.

    – We exist in three worlds: work/community, home, and the land of make-believe. There is a time and place for each.

    – It’s good to be nice, and helpful.

    – It’s important to be yourself.

    – I like model trains and trolleys….

    ….

    Both Rogers and Keeshan (Capt. Kangaroo) we’re really smart about children and TV. I got to see Keeshan talk to broadcasters in DC once. So much more than ping pong balls.

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