Matthew McConaughey has urged Americans to reassess their values after the killings at a school in his home town, Uvalde. EPA
Matthew McConaughey has urged Americans to reassess their values after the killings at a school in his home town, Uvalde. EPA
Matthew McConaughey has urged Americans to reassess their values after the killings at a school in his home town, Uvalde. EPA
Matthew McConaughey has urged Americans to reassess their values after the killings at a school in his home town, Uvalde. EPA

Film

Matthew McConaughey and Uvalde: proud Texan hails from city of school shooting horror

Actor says we 'must do better' after killings at Robb Elementary School

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews

May 26, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

After Tuesday's deadly mass shooting at a school in the US, a number of Hollywood stars voiced their dismay and distress. For Matthew McConaughey, however, the horror is extremely close to home, as the actor is from Uvalde, Texas, where the attack took place.

McConaughey, 52, spoke about the killings at Robb Elementary School, calling for change in a post shared on social media.

"As you all are aware there was another mass shooting today, this time in my home town of Uvalde, Texas. Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us,” the Oscar winner wrote.

"As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, it's time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs. We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children's issue.

"This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured.”

Matthew McConaughey: 'A certain honour of being a Texan'

McConaughey has spoken about his hometown in the past. He was born in the city, west of San Antonio, in 1969, and moved when his family relocated to Longview, Texas, in 1980.

In the years since he has "slipped in and out of town on numerous occasions", said the Uvalde Leader-News.

Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, in 1969. AP Photo
Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, in 1969. AP Photo

The actor considered moving from acting to public office, contemplating a 2022 run for Texas governor, saying he would only run if he was “best-equipped” or could make himself “useful".

However, it is something he ultimately ruled out in November.

"As a simple kid born in the little town of Uvalde, Texas, it never occurred to me that I would one day be considered for political leadership," McConaughey said as he announced he would not be running.

"It's a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I'm choosing not to take at this moment."

At an Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce event in February 2020, the actor made a public appearance with his mother, Kay McConaughey, and brother Mike McConaughey, also known as Rooster.

Kay, who was a teacher in the town, described it as "the most perfect place to raise children", and the Uvalde Leader-News reported that Matthew said "he didn’t learn to dream in Uvalde, he learnt to deal".

At the same event, his brother said of the town: "So many successful people came and learnt and left this town and went out and [succeeded]. This town is giving to people that live here."

The actor remains a proud Texan and lives in Austin, with his wife, Brazilian-American model Camila Alves, and their children, Levi, 13, Vida, 12, and Livingston, 9.

"In Texas, there is a certain honour of being a Texan that is a measure of doing something the best that you can. You have your name ... You have your nation — because you're American. You have, if you're a believer, because of God. And in Texas, you have a fourth measure. It's because you're a Texan," he told ABC in 2016.

"The Texas I grew up in was not insular at all, there is a certain thing that goes about Texans that says, ‘Go, out, use your passport, go travel all around the world, go see other places, go as a Texan, go venture out there.' You know, the rugged individual. It wasn't insular in that way, like a lot of places in the South might be and are.

"I like to say I live in Austin, Texas, because I can live where I want to."

The city of Uvalde, Texas

By Texan standards, Uvalde is a relatively small city with a population of about 15,860, statistics compiled by worldpopulationreview.com show, with mainly Hispanic and Latino communities. It is part of Uvalde County, about 130 kilometres west of San Antonio and 87km east of the Mexican border.

An aerial view of Robb Elementary School where the shooting took place. Getty Images / AFP
An aerial view of Robb Elementary School where the shooting took place. Getty Images / AFP

"Uvalde is the iconic Texas of Western movies. Indigenous peoples used the hill south of town on the Leona river as a lookout for centuries and in 1849 the United States Army chose this strategic location to build Fort Inge," the City of Uvalde website reads.

"Uvalde is on the edge of the infamous Nueces Strip where lawmen hunted down outlaws headed towards the border. One of the outlaws later became Uvalde’s Sheriff, John King Fisher."

Attractions in the area include Cook's Slough Nature Park, the Aviation Museum of Texas at Garner Field, the Sahawe Indian Outdoor Theatre and the Janey Slaughter Briscoe Grand Opera House.

Latest photos from Uvalde, Texas after the school shooting:

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP
Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters
A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters
A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters
A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters
Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters
Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters
Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters
Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters
A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters
A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters
People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters
People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters
Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP
Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP
People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP
People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP
Flowers are left outside the school. AFP
Flowers are left outside the school. AFP
Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo
Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo
Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP
Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP
A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP
A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP
Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP
Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP
Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP
Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP
The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters
The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters
Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters
Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters
People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP
Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP
Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP
Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA
Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA
A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP
A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP
Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP
A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP
A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
Families at the vigil. AFP
Families at the vigil. AFP
A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP
Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP
Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP
Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP
Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP
Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP
Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP
Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters
Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters
A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg
A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg
Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP
Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP
A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters
A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Tomorrow 2021
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

More from Firas Maksad
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

On Women's Day
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Essentials

The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September. 
 

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
On Women's Day
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

The five pillars of Islam
About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
List of alleged parties

 May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members

May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party

Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff

Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson

Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party

Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters

Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz

Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party

MWTC info

Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: May 11, 2023, 6:14 AM`
US