Does Matthew McConaughey's July 4th message hint at a political run?
While many of us spent Sunday enjoying grilled food and watching fireworks light up the sky, Matthew McConaughey recorded a message of unity for his fellow Americans on the Fourth of July. And, in honor of Independence Day, the actor, producer and possible future politician took to Instagram to share it. Happy Birthday, America, he began in a two-and-a-half minute video clip. 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, lets admit that this last year, this trip around the sun, was also a head-scratcher.  Thats certainly a fair description of a year filled with polarizing politics, a presidential election, a global pandemic, racial tensions and social turmoil. Given all of that, the 51-year-old star felt it was important to remind everyone that, as nations go, ours is still a young one, and we still have a long road ahead. Were babies as a country, he continued. Were basically going through puberty in comparison to other countries timelines, and were going to go through growing pains. ... This is not an excuse, this is just the reality. And this is good, because weve got to keep learning, weve got to keep maturing, weve got to keep striving, weve got to keep climbing, weve got to keep building, and weve got to make sure we maintain hope along the way, as we continue to evolve. Because its who we are. Because the alternative sucks.  McConaughey wore a white dress shirt, open at the neck, a pair of gold-framed aviator sunglasses and he had his hair slicked back as he delivered his address seated in front of an American flag. I believe that America, and you and I  I believe we're an aspiration, right? he noted. Were constantly in motion, were 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 weve got to keep realizing that were a place where our individual pursuits and desires need to be appreciative and supportive of our collective responsibilities as Americans. Hence, the United States of America.  And, to anyone who doesnt wish to play a cooperative role in that collective, he added, Move on. Go somewhere else.  He then asked his fellow citizens to reflect on that, to look at where weve come from, where we are and how and where we want to go from here, and then he challenged them to do something more. ' the Oscar winner mused. I want to be a little bit better; you want to be a little bit better. Lets be on the way to being the best we can be. Lets make that a song we cant not sing. Because its who we are. Its who weve got to be, and again, the alternative sucks.  After playing a clip from the star's address Monday morning, TODAYs Craig Melvin quipped, To give a speech like that on the Fourth of July, in front of a flag ... Yeah, hes running.  For political office, he means. And its no wonder he thinks so. In March, McConaughey visited TODAY and spoke with Al Roker about his rumored political ambitions  particularly about whether he might run for governor of Texas in 2022. "Look, it's a very honorable consideration," the actor said. Sure, it's a great thing and an honorable thing to be able to consider.