Borat, and Kazakhstan’s true identity

With all the hype surrounding Sacha Baron Cohen‘s new movie, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Lonely Planet author John Noble sets out to clear up any confusion between the crude, anti-semitic, sexist Borat, and the true people of Kazakhstan.

“Horses do not yet have the vote here, women do ride on the inside of buses (and collect the fares too) and the country’s chief Rabbi not long ago praised the government for its support of the small Jewish community.”

As Mr. Noble’s article, “The Real Kazakhstan: Where Borat Never Was,” reveals, Borat doesn’t look, act, or talk much like a real citizen of Kazakhstan, much to the chagrin of many government officials who have taken steps to counter the movie’s negative image. But is it such a bad thing? Noble doesn’t seem to think so.

“In the end, the guy maybe doing the country a favour. After all, millions who had never heard of Kazakhstan now have a notion of it that can only get better.”

Be sure and check out the full article here. High five!