MATT DAMON SLAMS TRUMP AND BANKERS At MIT Commencement Speech, June 3.

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Actor and activist Matt Damon Slams Trump and Bankers, and Emphasizes World Issues to Be Solved at MIT Class of 2016 graduation ceremony. For Friday's MIT commencement event Damon returned to his hometown, Cambridge, Mass. where he attended Harvard but didn't graduate and filmed the acclaimed movie "Good Will Hunting" (1997) with Ben Affleck and Robin Williams in which he portrayed an unrecognized genius who worked as a janitor at MIT, the Mass. Institute of Technology.

[valerief]

1. K&R

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2. Damon on US politics, Trump, World Problems, the Banker Heist of 2008, Eliz. Warren:

“Ben and I shot a movie here. It was then we knew for sure we could never have gotten in. I mean, you’re workin’ on some crazy stuff in these buildings, stuff that would freak me out if I actually understood it. I’m going to tell you about one that’s been on my mind — simulation theory. So the basic idea, as I understand it, is that we could be living in a massive simulation run by a far smarter civilization, like a giant computer game, and we don’t even know it.”

“What if this, all of this, IS a simulation? I mean it’s a crazy idea. But what if it is? And if there are multiple simulations, how come we have to be in the one where Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee for president? [laughter, applause] Can we like transfer to a different one? Now, then again, what if it isn’t a simulation? Either way, my answer is the same.”

“Either way, what we do, matters. What we do, affects the outcome. So either way, MIT, you’ve got to go out and do really interesting things, important things, inventive things. Because this world, real or imagined, this world has some problems that we need you to drop everything and solve. So go ahead and take your pick from the world’s worst buffet:
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Economic inequality, that’s a problem. How ‘bout the refugee crisis? Massive global insecurity. Climate change. Pandemics. Institutional racism.
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And add to that an American political system that’s failing. We’ve got Congressman on a two-year election cycle who are incentivized to think short-term and simply do not engage with long-term problems. 

And add to that, a media that thrives on scandal and people with their pants down — anything to get you to tune in and hawk you products that you don’t need. 

And add to that a banking system that steals people’s money. [Applause]”

“It’s alright, I’m not running for office. By the way, while I’m on this, let me just say this to the bankers — specifically the ones who brought you the biggest heist in history: It was theft and you knew it. It was fraud and you knew it. And you know what else? We know that you knew it.
So yeah, you sort of got away with it. You got that house in the Hamptons that other people paid for as their own mortgages went underwater. And you might have their money. But you don’t have our respect. And just so you know, when we pass you on the street, and look you in the eye, that’s what we’re thinking. [Applause]
And I don’t know if justice is coming for you in this life or the next. But if justice does come for you in this life, her name will be Elizabeth Warren.”

http://www.examiner.com/review/matt-damon-ridicules-trump-and-critiques-american-politics-mit-grad-speech

[SusanCalvin]

4. Thank you for posting the transcript.

Last edited Sat Jun 4, 2016, 07:27 PM - Edit history (1)

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5. For sure. Matt did a good job with his speech, very fitting for the new grads plus

an injection of pressing world issues and his own focus. But I must admit at times his formal don's attire reminded me of Erasmus or Mr. Chips!

[SusanCalvin]

6. Oh yeah, I did need to look at it just to see that! nt

[wezl]

3. k&r

[MrMickeysMom]

7. MIT sure got a great commencement speech...

If the spirit of Robin Williams had time that day, I'll be it was there, too...

[SoFlaJet]

8. more more more

we want more.

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9. If you want more of Matt's Speech, here's the Full Version, 23 mins. (volume low).