Kazakh Official to Borat: Come Visit

Townhall ^ | Thursday, October 19, 2006

[presidio9]

top Kazakh official has an invitation for the British comedian whose depiction of a homophobic, misogynistic, English-mangling Kazakh journalist has outraged the Central Asian nation: Come visit.

Deputy Foreign Minister Rakhat Aliyev said in an interview that he understands why Kazakhs are unhappy about Sacha Baron Cohen's character, Borat.

"I'd like to invite Cohen here," he said. "He can discover a lot of things. Women drive cars, wine is made of grapes, and Jews are free to go to synagogues."

Though to some Cohen's antics are potentially more insulting to Americans, Kazakhs have long seethed at his popularity and his maligning of their country. Cohen's Borat character has presented inhabitants of the ex-Soviet republic as addicted to horse urine, fond of shooting dogs, and viewing rape and incest as respectable hobbies.

Kazakh officials have tried to respond to the outrageous descriptions.

The Foreign Ministry recently ran ads on CNN, in The New York Times, and the International Herald Tribune reciting laudable _ though slightly boring _ facts and figures on the nation's economic growth, civil liberties and cultural achievements.

Kazakh officials are also wincing ahead of the imminent U.S. premiere of Cohen's full-length feature movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

"It's useless to offend an artist and threaten to sue him," Aliyev was quoted as saying. "It will only further damage the country's reputation and make Borat even more popular."

[kellynla]

Bor what?
hey if the CIA doesn't even list the country;
I know I'm not going there! LMAO

[reagan_fanatic]

If he does go there, will he be execute?

[dead]

Kazakhstan has provided a timeless textbook example of how a nation should not behave if some foreign comedian is goofing on them.

[lesser_satan]

"It's useless to offend an artist and threaten to sue him," Aliyev was quoted as saying. "It will only further damage the country's reputation and make Borat even more popular."

This Aliyev guy seems to get it.

[aynrandfreak]

Don't do it Borat! It's another Uzbek plot!

[reagandemocrat]

Maybe he will perform his hit song: "Throw the Jew Down the Well" for them.

[kenavi]

Actually, there is a legend of a massive conversion of Kazakhs to Judaism during the Middle Ages. Many parts of the world used to be more enlightened than they are today.

[kenavi]

Actually, there is a legend of a massive conversion of Kazakhs to Judaism during the Middle Ages. Many parts of the world used to be more enlightened than they are today.

[lovecraft]

Maybe he will perform his hit song: "Throw the Jew Down the Well" for them.

That episode was so funny I was almost crying.

[dighton]

"I'd like to invite Cohen here," he said. "He can discover a lot of things. Women drive cars, wine is made of grapes, and Jews are free to go to synagogues."

So they more or less agree.

[rahbert]

"wine is made of grapes"

what else would wine be made of??

[stevie_d_64]

Well...He has said in those stupid commercials of his movie that if it doesn't succeed, he will be killed...

I'll do my part...

[dighton]

In Kazakhstan is better not to ask.

;-)

[dfwgator]

Don't do it Borat! It's another Uzbek plot!

Uzbeks! Don't give them money or matches . . . and don't encourage them to gamble or drink.

Uzbeks!!! They are the weak link in the great chain of socialism.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Deputy Foreign Minister Rakhat Aliyev said in an interview that he understands why Kazakhs are unhappy about Sacha Baron Cohen's character, Borat.

The Kazakhs need to get over it. The real target of Cohen/Borat's humor is the US, and despite (or maybe because of) the moments of discomfort he inspires, he's a very funny guy. Hope the Muslims out there note the lack of riots and violence in response.

[gura]

I wouldn't make this man mad:

[presidio9]

what else would wine be made of??

Rice or plums in Japan.

[TexasRepublic]

Why would Kazakhs be so angry unless Cohen is closer to the truth than they want us to know?

[raccoonradio]

Is he the most bizarre comedian since Andy Kaufman or is he just ripping off Yakov Smirnoff? Will people "get the joke"? Does his "satire" help defeat anti-Semitism or just make it worse? Sacha Baron Cohen,
who'll be playing Kazakh reporter "Borat" in the upcoming film (has done various TV appearances), has done songs like "Throw The Jews Down The Well So They We Can All Be Free"--but Cohen is himself Jewish.

Wikipedia: "He explains his character's racist nature by stating that the segments are a "dramatic demonstration of how racism feeds on dumb conformity, as much as rabid bigotry."

Is this kind of like how Randy Newman offended short-statured people with the song "Short People"? Newman was making fun of bigots, not short people (though his "character" tosses out various lines that insult short people). The key is in the song's bridge: "Short people are just the same as you and I," sing the background singers. Newman replies, "The fools such as I" (see?) But after his character admits he's a fool, he just goes back to putting down little people.

So..is Borat the same thing? Using satire to point out racism?

In his broken English, Borat proclaims that Kazakhstan is a very progressive country: "Women can now ride in INSIDE of bus! Homosexuals no longer have to wear blue caps! Age of consent raised to EIGHT years old!"

The country of Kazakhstan is not amused...

And conservative satire group Communists For Kerry ("Che-Mart: We smell for less!") has a page devoted
to stopping Borat (or are they really expressing admiration in disguise?)

http://www.stopborat.com