America the Arrogant, "Know-it-All" Teen-Ager

Last night we watched the first half of the Borat movie (don't spoil the rest of the movie for me) and I nearly pissed in my pants by the outrageous satirical humor. One moment I felt like bursting out in laughter and the next moment crying in sadness. I've been a fan of his show on HBO for awhile now and couldn't wait for this movie to come out but for some reason we never saw it in the theater so I'm coming late to the party. That being said, however, I was sickened by the responses of some of the Americans "interviewed" for the movie.

The scene that alarmed the most (so far) was the one where Borat is about to sing the national anthem of the United States at a rodeo in the south somewhere. The organizer of the event proceeds to tell "Borat"that his "dark hair" and mustache make him look like a "terrorist" and that he should probably shave it. That it makes him look like a "Muslim." And that when the war "over there" is done that he would be better accepted "around here." All this despite "Borat" wearing an American flag shirt and over-sized cowboy hat.

The fictitious character of Borat then launches into into expressing his hatred against homosexuals saying, "“They hang ’em in our country.” The man replies: “That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

The ignorance, hatred and bigotry in this country is breath-taking sometimes. Especially since this country is supposedly the most "educated" country on Earth. So much for believing that "all men are created equal." Have we ever really thought this way?? We certainly didn't think blacks were equal until only very recently. Many of us are just pretenders it seems. It appears that our "shining beacon on a hill" to guide the rest of the world is a cheap flashlight made in China. Many Americans have become just as over the top, laughable, offensive and absurd as the fictitious character of Borat--and perhaps that's the point of the movie. To shine a light on our ignorant view that we are inherently better then the rest of the world. It's sad to see people that think they have it all figured out when in reality they are obscenely uneducated and embarrassing. No wonder the rest of the world laughs at our over-inflated self-worth and narcissism. We look soooo stupid!!! We look like Neanderthals.

We think we're so cool when in reality we are like that teenager who blows money on worthless crap, drives around flipping the bird like they're the only ones on the road, struts around thinking he's "all that" when in reality he's just your average skinny punk. His low self-esteem screaming out to the rest of the world as they over-compensate for their short-comings and weaknesses. Always blaming someone else for their mistakes, misfortunes and problems. As Homer Simpson says, "It's everyone's fault but mine." Going out of their way to insult and even beat people up to make themselves feel better. Doing illegal things to get what they want and cutting in line rather then waiting their turn like everyone else because they believe that they are more deserving then anyone else.

Now, that being said I don't think ALL Americans are like this but sadly many are. Don't get me wrong I am proud to be an American and I love this country but we have to face that we have an ugly side (just like any country or people). And yes, we CAN do wrong and make mistakes. We AREN'T invincible and there ARE consequences to our actions. We are the teen-agers on the block and we need to chill out and listen to other more seasoned countries that have gone through centuries of hardships and wars and lived to tell the tale of what NOT to do. We still have a lot to learn about being a country and geo-political relations. We can't just blow up everyone we disagree with. Shooting first and asking questions later.

Well, I'm done with my rant. That guy in the movie just really hit a nerve.

Hope everyone is doing well!!