Collateral Damage
National Geographic Channel “The Story Of Us”
Morgan Freeman, narrator
National Geographic/ Revelations Entertainment 21st Century Fox 2017
Each episode is 50 minutes in length
6 Episodes in this series that airs on Wednesday
Episode Four With Morgan Freeman
November 8, 2017
Us And Them
Guest: Megan Phelps-Roper
Megan Phelps-Roper is one of the people to be interviewed by Morgan Freeman in the fourth Episode of “The Story Of Us.” Phelps-Roper is the grand-daughter of the late Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church (no Baptist affiliation) in Topeka, Kansas. The church was widely known for protests against homosexuals and American soldier funerals. I had a personal experience with a Protest when driving through Kansas one sunny afternoon. I stopped for a stoplight only to find myself between the protesters on one side of the street and the people being protested against on the other side. My car was struck with vegetables and I couldn't wait for the traffic light to turn green so I could drive out of town. Megan Phelps-Roper has changed her philosophy of “them and us,” left the church and now speaks on the power of kindness.
Father Gregory J. Boyle, of “Homeboy Industries” in Los Angeles, has worked for years among the youth in the city to help them become educated, obtain jobs and try to understand other people. Another person interviewed is Daryl Davis, a jazz musician, who works to know members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Episode Four really is “the story of us,” and what paths we choose to take and what happens when confronted with another belief system. Especially, when the confrontation really isn't that, but a gentle approach toward a mutual path and benefits both parties. One is giving and one is receiving. Wanting to believe in something seems to be a global feeling. During a survey on “what do you believe?” answers were varied from “the existence of God,” to “luck” to “love” to “music” to “collective consciousness.” No one is the perfect “us” and no one is the perfect “them.” As Morgan Freeman states, “The challenge we face is learning how to accept those who are not like us.” The choice is ours.
Production values are excellent.
National Geographic Partners LLC and Revelations Entertainment have joined to produce this series. The series will run on television where over 730 million people, in 172 countries and 43 languages will see and hear it. The six episodes are “The March Of Freedom,” (October 11, 2017), “The Fight For Peace“ (October 18, 2017), “ The Power Of Love” (October 25, 2017,) “Us And Them” (November 8, 2017,) “The Power Of Us” (November 15, 2017) and “The Spirit Of Rebellion” (November 22, 2017.) The organization called (NGP) returns 27 percent of proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit www.natgeotv.com or www.nationalgeographic.com. Visit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, Linkedin and Pinterest.
Copyright 2017 Marie Asner
