If I’m being honest, I had no idea what to write about today. Maybe like you, my brain is still settled into an idling mode from the holiday weekend. So here I am, late on Monday night scrolling the internet for inspiration. Lo and behold, 5 minutes into my search I land on a story featuring Matthew McConaughey.
If you recall, a few months back I shared a quick piece about McConaughey’s book Greenlights. It was delightful. McConaughey seems to be making the political rounds these days, testing talking points and seeking opportunities to share a message of optimism. Pundits continue to speculate about his interest in running to serve as the Governor of Texas.
Whether he jumps into the fray or not, I’m here today to take issue with how the story referenced above treats McConaughey’s social media post honoring the 4th of July. In short, don’t look down your nose at him. Here’s the uncut version of McConaughey’s post via twitter:
I’ve never heard McConaughey claim to be the most eloquent, highly refined speaker in America. Authentically, he shares many of his thoughts in a freeform, lyrical manner. And despite the pundits dunking on his use of the term “puberty” to describe the youth of our country, I think his message comes across quite clearly: we can celebrate where we started, where we are, and also aspire to more in the time ahead of us.
Unfortunately, the CNN story above stops the clip right after the puberty remark and fails to reach this broader message. Had they played it through, they might have realized they stumbled into talking past the same message he was sharing. My unsolicited advice to them is pretty straightforward: be careful who you dismiss.
America is an aspirational nation. The most successful of our politicians have harnessed the language of that nature. And the beauty of that language is often simple and direct. Those who demand a higher degree of elocution often scorn those who embrace this more laconic approach. They fail to realize that elevated thought doth not require highfalutin speech.
If you were to pull together a focus group of “average” Americans, I bet you 9 out of 10 will understand exactly what McConaughey was trying to convey. And that’s precisely why he’ll be successful if he enters politics. Those who think otherwise should keep in mind a few other, noteworthy, plainspoken leaders in our lineage: Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy, Obama. At their most effective moments, they did not show up for the Harvard debate club – they pulled the metaphorical stool up to the bar and met listeners where they were by speaking simply, boldly, and with a vision to a better future.
I, for one, applaud McConaughey for his genuine message of hope. In just a couple of minutes he acknowledges our past, celebrates our progress, and challenges us to think about, and work toward, a brighter future. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a fitting tribute on Independence Day.
Part of the Possible 