Do you think sacha baron cohen is a racist?

Question

When the Ali G character first came out, most people seemed to think that the joke was about a white guy who was trying to be black> How many white or black guys do you know called ali, not many I bet, however Ali is well known to be a muslim name and the joke was infact about british muslims who act black, not whites. Nobody picked up on this even though the character was called Ali. Then we get Borat also a muslim character. Ive heard the argument that the joke is on america, but come on, if this was an african country being made fun of and not a muslim country being targated, for so called humor, would it not have rang racist alarm bells. Why is a Jewish comedian allowed to get away with blatant racism???? I am catholic as it happens so I am not bias in any way, I think this kind of bigotry is unacceptable in this day and age and whats worse its getting huge media hype, it should be banned, there is enough tension and hate already.

The point is this. Its well known and obvious that racial groups make fun out of themselves but if another racial group pokes fun at your race its considered racist. How is it than when to do this is such a taboo that a guy can be a huge success by doing this and get away with it. To add to this of course its an issue that he is a jew because unless you have been living under a stone the jews and muslims have some big issues with eachother. Do you think it would go so unnoticed if a muslim comic did an string of jewish characters. No it would be considered racist. Obviously.

Answer 1

Borat was not intended to be Muslim. In fact, the most anti-Muslim people in that movie were white people who assumed he was Muslim. Borat made fun of white people, black people, mortgage brokers, gay people, feminists, Pentecostal Christians, politicians, and hotel clerks.

Also, as far as making fun of blacks making fun of African countries is concerned, I strongly suggest you rent Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America."

Answer 2

His humor is satire. By playing this totally ignorant fresh-off-the boat Eastern European "displaced person", so to speak, and saying all of these ridiculously inappropriate things , he occasionally gets people who would normally NOT agree with or say such things in public to start to show something more like their true feelings.

In other words, if a person is sort of a closet anti-semite, for example, but would never say so in public, and then one day he meets this Russian (Kazakhstani rather) "newscaster" who's supposedly here filming a documentary for Kazakhstani TV , and this newscaster is saying blatantly hateful things against Jews, the other person starts to laugh or go right along with Borat, or maybe even say worse things sometimes. So that's how it works. Sacha Cohen exposes peoples' inner bigotries through his characters, and he also demonstrates how ridiculous people actually appear when they say things about "Jewish conspiracies", or when they are blatantly racist or sexist, or , anti-gay, etc etc, when he does those things as Borat.

Also, it should be noted, making fun of the old "off the boat" Eastern European-type, with the mismatched clothing, the thick accent, the goofy attitudes, etc, is really nothing new in the West. For years and years there were Polish jokes, there still are I'm sure, and even on Saturday Night Live in the 70's Steve Martin and Dan Akroyd used to play the "Czech brothers", "two wild-and-crazy guys", sort of like a couple of "Borats", really (only they weren't racist and all that.... just totally bad dressers, with funny accents , who weren't very good with the ladies but thought they were).

Answer 3

Sacha Baron Cohen, just says what others think and i suppose alot of his material can be below the belt.Why you would think that nobody picked up on Ali G being asian is a mystery as it was obvious like you stated.Cohen has made this film Borat and like lots of other movies people do not have to watch it, if they find it offensive.Talking about bigotry why did you have to mention the fact that he was a "Jewish" comedian in you question and not just simply a comedian.

Answer 4

I don't know if he's blatantly being racist towards Muslims. Yes, as an Asian Muslim I do sometimes wonder if there's racial undertones to a lot of his sketches and I suppose some Muslims would say yes hes Jewish so of course he's being racist towards Muslims. But then you have the arguement that there's plenty of none-Muslim lads who act all weird like Ali G.

I on the other hand have met enough lads of Asian origin (and Muslim) who walk like one leg is shorter than the other and talk like something is stuck in their throats. To take the biscuit out of these lads may give them a take up call. Since when did the British government put up Job seekers allowence to cover the chains these lads are dripping in?

As for knowing many lads who are black and called Ali-just so happens I do know a canny few.

That is my opinion anyway. No doubt plenty of people will be like "oh yeah, so true, so racist" but I can't support the idea fully.

Answer 5

He's a jew, he's more fun then any jew I ever met. He is making money by making you laugh.

There is racism in all comedians act >> see Carlos Mencia on Comedy central.

Answer 6

No I don't believe he is a racist.

Why are you so offended?

Get a sense of humor.

There are much bigger issues in the world than some comedian and his jokes. Get a life.

Answer 7

I just think he's a actor playing a part saying lines. So no.

Answer 8

jews get away with everything like when Howard Stern told Charles Barkley he would make a good slave

Answer 9

Who is that?