Academy award winning actor Matthew McConaughey, who has been in films such as Fools Gold, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, and Interstellar, gave a statement from the White House, Tuesday.
McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, Texas spoke briefly about some of the children who were slaughtered during a recent school shooting at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
“My wife and I – Camila – we spent most of last week on the ground with the families in Uvalde, Texas, and we shared stories, tears and memories.
“The common thread , independent of the anger and the confusion and sadness, it was the same: How can these families continue to honor these deaths by keeping the dreams of these children and teachers alive?
“Again, how can the loss of these lives matter?
“So, while we honor and acknowledge the victims, we need to recognize that this time it seems that something is different. There is a sense that perhaps there is a viable path forward. Responsible parties in this debate seem to at least be committed to sitting down and having a real conversation about a new and improved path forward – a path that can actually get something done this time…
“Alithia – her dream was to go to art school in Paris and one day share her art with the world. Ryan and Jessica ( her parents ) were eager to share Alithia’s art with us, and said if we could share it, then somehow maybe that would make Alithia smile in heaven…
“We also met Ana and Dani – the mom and stepdad of nine year old Maite Rodriguez. Maite wanted to be a marine biologist. She was already in contact with Corpus Christi University of A&M for her future enrollment. Nine years old…
“These bodies were very different. They needed much more than makeup to be presentable. They need extensive restoration.. Why? Due to the exceptionally large exit wounds of an AR-15 rifle. Most of the bodies so mutilated that only DNA tests or green converse could identify them…
“So, we know what’s on the table. We need to invest in mental healthcare. We need safer schools. We need to restrain sensationalized media coverage. We need to restore our family values. We need to restore our American values. And we need responsible gun ownership.
“We need background checks. We need to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle to 21. We need a waiting period for those rifles We need red flag laws and consequences for those who abuse them…
“There is not a Democratic or Republican value in one single act of these shooters. It’s not…
“But people in power have failed to act. So, We’re asking you, and I’m asking you – will you please ask yourselves: Can both sides rise above? Can both sides see beyond the political problem at hand and admit that we have a life preservation on our hands?
“Enough with the counterpunching. Enough of the invalidation of the other side. Let’s come to the common table that represents the American people. Find a middle ground, where most of us Americans live anyway, at least on this issue.
“Because I promise you, America – you and me, who – we are not as divided as we are told we are. No…”
But we are divided politically, especially when it comes to guns. Conservative media is dividing America. It’s dividing America on race, telling their viewers that immigrants are coming to steal their jobs, their government benefits, to replace white voters. All one has to do is watch a segment of Fox News’ most prominent race baiter, Tucker Carlson, telling his viewers that Black Lives Matter and Antifa are terrorists who want to destroy them and America.
The gun lobby, the NRA, is dividing America. It’s representatives, and media and political allies told Americans that Obama was going to confiscate every single one of their guns. Now it’s Joe Biden who wants to steal their sacred guns. What has he done? Nothing. Just as Obama did nothing.
There is one side that wants to do something and another side that doesn’t want to do anything, because it would disrupt their profits, their influence.
Those who want to do something, anything, cannot stop counterpunching those who refuse to do anything, cannot stop calling them out, and that includes the NRA. These parties are not interested in reasonable discussions, they’re not interested in getting anything done. All they’re interested in is enriching their donors, the NRA, and the gun manufacturers who will continue to fund their reelection campaigns.
It’s also important to point out that there is indeed a Republican value in the acts of some of these shooters, those who have acted on their belief in a Great Replacement, a racist conspiracy theory that has in the last few years become prominent in the rhetoric of mainstream conservative media commentators. And we know who they are.
Sources: The Week, White House.gov.
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