This is the second time I've seen Borat. And to be honest, I was more offended then the first time I saw it, but I also laughed more than the first time. So it was in all, strangely irritating and satisfying. It just blows my mind that a video like this could be educational in the slightest, but the fact of the matter is, it is. Borat touches on not only the cultural differnces American and Asians have, but it delves into prejudices cultures have toward one another, assumptions we make, and most importantly, how different our living styles and values are. Just because we're American we automatically assume what we have going on over here is right. Our way our the highway (sorry to be cliche). Other countries have very successful governments and economies running their lives non-parallel to our beliefs, and who's to say they can't. I mean, certainly there are moral standards that we as a world live up to, and I believe Borat touches on that a little bit. Just because he might do things differently he expects to be respected whether or not you disagree. The movies also touches on how we as a society can sometimes force our beliefs and values on other. In the scene in New York when Borat tries to kiss one of the guys on the street and the man proceeds to run away at top speed with Borat chasing him reminds me that not everyone is going to just roll over and say "bring on the change." If people do intend to change they need time, and if they refuse well then, just leave it be.
Also, Borat touches on many cultural differences that I think people need to stop being so surprised by. In the United States we have people that talk differently, call soda different names, listen to different music. Even here in the US you can't find a Dunkin Donuts on the West Coast to save your life. So why wouldn't life across the ocean be different with all the differences we have happening in one hemisphere. If people could start approaching cultural differences (despite how we feel about them) by the words "that's an interesting way to do it" instead of "holy shit did they just east a mouse?" I do believe we'd find a lot of similarities as well. We're all humans. Besides the moral standards (if they be on the same page) who cares if people in some deep southern jungle in a third world eat catepillars and lizards? They're probably making fun of us for eating something called a "Big Mac." What's normal isn't always what's normal for someone else. I think if you can wrap your head around that, Borat will take on a whole different meaning.
What you said about the fact that America seems to just assume that the way it does things is right is so completely the way I see it too. I just don't get how we can be so pompous. I suppose it is much easier to sit at home fat in our big chairs and our American dollars and ignore and have biases about the rest of the world around us. The sense of entitlement that Americans have really just needs to go. Lastly, I just wanted to say that I completely agree on the idea that they most likely make fun of us for our lifestyles in the way that we make fun of their, because I don't want to just bash Americans. I think it is something about a human built in subconscious territoriality that makes us all like this, in some way or another. Let It Be Known.
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