Matthew McConaughey delivers winding, pro-America message on July 4: 'We're basically going through puberty'



Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a headline-making speech on Sunday to commemorate Independence Day and America herself.

What are the details?

McConaughey on Sunday afternoon shared a widely viewed video in which he said that America — still a very young nation — is "basically going through puberty."

“Happy Birthday, America," he began the video. "Yes, indeed. As we celebrate our independence today, as we celebrate our birth as a nation, the day that kick-started a revolution to gain our sovereignty, let's admit that this last year, this trip around the sun, was also another head-scratcher."

He continued, pointing out that when compared to other countries across the globe, America is still very early in its development.

“But let's also remember that we're babies as a country," McConaughey explained. “We're basically going through puberty in comparison to other countries' timeline, and we're going to go through growing pains. We are going through growing pains. This is not an excuse, this is just the reality, and this is good, because we got to keep learning, we got to keep maturing, we gotta keep striving, we gotta keep climbing, we gotta keep building. And we gotta make sure we maintain hope along the way, as we continue to evolve."

McConaughey added, "Why? Because it's who we are. Why? Because the alternative sucks."

He went on to laud Americans and their daily lives, making the country greater and greater as days go by.

“We're constantly in motion, we're on the way, trying to get wiser, trying to get braver, trying to dream more, trying to do more, trying to be more fair, take the right kind of responsibilities, to gain the right kind of freedoms, and we gotta keep realizing that we're a place where our individual pursuits and desires need to be appreciative and supportive of our collective responsibilities as Americans," the Oscar-winning actor continued. “Hence, the United States of America. Sure, we're each unique. We're each independent. We each have innate abilities that others don't have, as people and as states. But at the same time, we are all in this together, and if you don't purchase that, move on. Go somewhere else."

He concluded, "So, as we celebrate the red, white and blue this weekend, let's be sure and just reflect just a minute, take a little bit of inventory on where we've come from, where we are and how and where we want to go from here on the way to being the best we can be. Now what if that was a song, and each of us just said, 'I can't not sing that song?' I want to be a little bit better, you want to be a little bit better. Let's be on the way to being the best we can be. Let's make that a song we can't not sing. Why? Because it's who we are. It's who we gotta be, and again, the alternative sucks. Let's rock, America. Happy Birthday, just keep livin'. I'll see you there."

happy 245th birthday America - lets rock https://t.co/MiLKZ0HN8y

— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) 1625432522.0

Matthew McConaughey says he was 'dumbfounded' by Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to lift Texas' mask mandate



Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey, who's currently mulling a run for governor of Texas, on Wednesday criticized Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for lifting the state's mask mandate.

McConaughey appeared on "CBS This Morning" to discuss his charitable efforts to help Texas rebuild after February's massive snow storm. During the interview, he was asked to share his thoughts on Gov. Abbott's March 2 announcement that Texas would open 100% and that residents would no longer be required to wear masks.

Academy Award winner Matthew @McConaughey is on a mission to help fellow Texans after last month's massive storm.… https://t.co/1UMAeLYhLr
— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1615986788.0

"My reaction to that is ... I was a little dumbfounded by the decision," McConaughey said. "I understand 'go back to work.' What I did not understand was 'pull the mask mandate.'"

He suggested that Texans don't really have a problem with wearing face coverings to protect against COVID-19 and that the real problem is people don't like the government telling them what to do.

"I just want to remind, not only Texans, but everybody out there, it's not the mask we're afraid of, c'mon. It's the word 'mandate.' Let's not let the word 'mandate' get in the way of practical use of this little tool called a mask. It's just a small inconvenience today for more freedom tomorrow," McConaughey said.

Though Texans are no longer required to wear a mask, the actor said masking is our "choice" and said that people should "keep masking up."

"It's proven to help. We don't have much longer in this. We'll get through this. Thank you," he said.

Asked about his potential political ambitions, McConaughey reiterated that he's giving consideration to running for governor, but said he went on the program to discuss his efforts to help Texans recover from the storm.

"As I've said before, I'm giving it consideration. It's a very honorable thing to consider ... As I've said before and I'll say again now, I have to decide for me what is my category where I can be most useful in life from here?"

McConaughey and his wife Camila will host "We're Texas," a virtual benefit this Sunday to raise money to help Texans recovering from the winter storm. The benefit will feature performances from artists including Kelly Clarkson, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, and more.

The actor credited his wife with coming up with the idea.

"Camila came and knocked on my door and said, 'do you see what's happening here?'" McConaughey told CBS. "She has my back. I put my head down, gathered people to go to work."

He contacted Texas businesses, athletes, and other celebrities to recruit them to assist with the benefit.

"We're happy with where we are, with a lot of help from a lot of people, in Texas and beyond," he said.

Matthew McConaughey considers running for Governor of Texas

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has been dropping hints about running for the Texas governorship, although it's not clear when he would actually take the plunge.

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