What Fred Rogers Taught Us About Diplomacy

Fred Rogers was a television presenter and educator who became famous for his PBS show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He was also a Navy veteran, ordained minister, parent and grandfather. In addition to all that, he had some great advice about diplomacy.

He knew that love was at the center of diplomacy.

In a world where we’re so often focused on what’s wrong, what could be better and how to fix the problems in our lives, Fred Rogers had a different approach. In an interview with NPR, he explained that he believed love was at the center of diplomacy.

He said: “If we take care of our world and treat each other well, then I’m sure that’s going to help us solve all sorts of problems.”

That may sound like common sense but it takes more than common sense to build lasting peace — it takes commitment and deliberate action to cultivate love across lines of difference. And that’s why Fred Rogers’ philosophy is so important for today’s leaders who are working toward creating healthy communities and spreading peace around the world.

He taught us to look past first impressions (literally and metaphorically).

We should all be careful of making assumptions about people. We can’t always rely on what we see and hear. Fred Rogers was a great example of this, as he often used puppets to communicate with children on his show. He knew that being able to see through false appearances is one of the most important skills in life, so he made sure his audience understood this concept by teaching it through his storytelling.

The lesson here isn’t just about how easy it is to make mistakes based on first impressions; it’s also about how much more there is to learn from people than what you might think at first glance.

He believed in the power of words and actions.

Fred Rogers believed that words and actions have the power to hurt or heal, and that they should be used with care. “When I was a boy, I talked incessantly,” he told People in 1991. “My mother constantly said ‘Freddy, you’ve got to learn how to play quietly by yourself.’ So then I did it, but even then I still needed constant attention because of my need to communicate constantly.”

He encouraged children who watched his show (and everyone who saw him) to not just say what they mean but act on it too — whether that meant showing love for someone who needs it or saying something when they have an issue with something going on around them.

He knew that it was easier to hate than to love.

Fred Rogers knew that it’s easier to hate than it is to love. He also understood that hate is a powerful force and that it can be difficult for people to overcome their own biases and preconceived notions about others.

In one episode, he talks about the importance of understanding where others are coming from before we try and engage with them. This means having an open mind, being willing to listen, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable enough so you don’t shut down when someone disagrees with you or challenges your worldview.

He thought we should take a hard look in the mirror when we’re upset with someone else.

Fred Rogers would have you take a hard look in the mirror when you’re upset with someone else. He suggested that we should try to be more empathetic to other people’s feelings, rather than jumping to conclusions or making assumptions about what they mean or intend.

He believed it was important to recognize that we don’t always know what is going on inside another person’s mind and heart. And he made it clear that asking questions is an excellent way of learning more about someone else, regardless of how different your backgrounds may be.

He didn’t think we can be truly good without being kind to all people.

Fred Rogers believed that, in order to be truly good, we must extend kindness and compassion to all people. He taught us not to judge people based on appearance, action or words — regardless of their race, religion or sexuality.

This is a lesson that diplomats should take seriously when working with other cultures around the world. They need to know that even if someone comes from a different background than them (including different religions), they should treat them with respect and dignity without letting personal biases get in the way of achieving peace in an increasingly global world.

Fred Rogers had a lot of wisdom about how everyone could be better diplomats; who knew?

In his book, Rogers shares the wisdom that he gained from years of being a diplomat. He writes: “I realize that I have been on a journey to discover how we can be better diplomats as we work together with others in our families, communities and country.”

He does not shy away from describing his own mistakes and shortcomings. For example, he writes about having trouble accepting change when it comes to children’s television programming: “My narrow vision blinded me for many years…I was not able to see beyond my own prejudices or allow myself to think differently about what might be best for children’s programming.”

Fred Rogers was a great example of someone who understood the importance of diplomacy. He believed that we should be kind to everyone, even our enemies. He thought that we can’t just pay attention to what people say but also how they say it. And he knew that love is at the center of all relationships — even, and especially, diplomatic ones.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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