What's Wrong With Borat

This post is not a review of the movie.
I have not seen it, nor do I plan to.
Nor is it a critique of any of the ideals or issues presented in the film . . .
I have a keen appreciation of satire, and am not offended by a Jew pointing out the inate anti-Semitism found in the world, even if it be through humor (All the better) . . . even be it bitting . . .
Nor am I bothered by the vulgarity . . .
Or rather, I find such things to be reprehensible and part of the general moral degradation of our times (Those who wish to argue, need only think of how women currently dress and are told to look, then ask themselves if they are seeing nothing less then the complete degradation of the female gender, subjecting them to the lusts of others), but since I know that I do not wish to subjugate my senses and mind to such things, I make no plans to see it. No offense is able to arise.
For an Orthodox Jew, all movies should be kept away from . . . This being said by one who literally bites the hand that feeds him -my parents both have worked in the industry.

Rather my problem is with those in our midst who wish to white-wash it . . .
Friends often quote Borat and, give it time, a Rabbi somewhere will write and article or say speech about this whole mess.
This is what bothers me.
True, "according to film producer Jay Roach, Baron Cohen is also himself devout; Roach told reporters that Baron Cohen keeps Kosher and will not use the phone on the Sabbath . . .",
True, Borat may be funny . . .
But what do we have a connection to such things?
To have a shprach with someone on Mivtzoyim we may need to know the weather, we may need to know current events and the like . . . but to become so entrenched in pop-culture . . . .
In truth, the issue has little to do with Cohen himself, he is only the talk of the day, the question how close should we get, and how far should we stay?
We need to think at times.
All this, and the question arises, so why am I writing an article about this?
Now, that's a good question.


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