Does it really matter?

I want to start learning how to program (just as a hobby... not for video games, not for a job), and people will always argue about what's the best programming language, or what's the best beginner language. But as long as I follow through with the learning, does it really even matter? So what if I don't pick the perfect choice for a first language? I can always learn others, right? Why do people argue so much about language superiority? As long as the end results are satisfactory, does it really matter how you got there?

It is important because languages emphasizes different concepts and force you to focus on them a beginner. They also vary in their amounts of bullshit, bad practices, and ease of building things.

After long deliberation I have come to the conclusion that MIT is doing it right after all at the moment, and Python is a rather good language for beginners in that it is both highly practical and lacks "magical and unnecessary cruft and horrible BS" à la Java. And while Haskell is rightfully highly praised as an example of how things should be done in the world of programming, I consider it the perfect *second language* to learn, but not the first. Using it as the first language a beginner might fight it discouraging, having to understand certain concepts before being able to build something practical. At the same time, lacking experience with another language they won't be able to appreciate its power, beauty, and correctness.