Letter to the Editor: Ms. Rachel is No Mr. Rogers

At this tragic time in the Middle East, where, like previous leaders, Hamas has no concern what-so-ever about the well being of the Palestinians -- how the millions invested in pervasive, underground tunnels could have benefited them!  -- and when Israel, like the US, has a leader devoid of any semblance of character, I was pleased that The Washington Post printed my letter about suffering, traumatized children.

To the editor:

Regarding the Aug. 1 Style article “How Ms. Rachel built her neighborhood”:

Undoubtedly, Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, is a kind, sensitive talent who well deserves the success of her appealing videos for children. Still, I wish she featured both a Palestinian child and an Israeli child who was taken hostage by Hamas. Accurso says she cares for all children. However, in only featuring a Palestinian child, she seemingly picked a side.

Like Accurso, I adored the comforting messages depicted by “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” During a horrific divorce process, my little girls, who were 4 and 7, watched the show with rapt attention, and I joined them, never wanting it to conclude. When it inevitably did, I would assure my daughters that Mister Rogers would visit us the next day. (On Fridays, I would show them a calendar and point to Monday.) However, Rogers’s decision to invite a man of color to join the talent of his show is in no way analogous to Accurso’s decision to platform only one side of the horrifying Israel-Gaza war.

SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Published in The Washington Post August 7, 2025

You may be interested in my review of the documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”. https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/reviews-commentary/wont-you-be-my-neighbor-mister-rogers-return-visit-fills-urgent-void/