Ok... I lied.

Usually, before I condemn someone, I like to give them a chance. And no, not stuff like James Frey, because that never had a shot at being worthwhile. As soon as Oprah mentions a book, it tells me that the tripe isn't worth my time. No, I mean when society really lays into somebody, I like to see why there is so much controversy. I did this when Salman Rushdie wrote "The Satanic Verses". Frankly, it didn't capture my interest, and is sitting on my shelf gathering dust. But this last weekend, I finally went to the movie theater to see Borat. Yes, even after I said I hated him.

Surprise, surprise. My opinion has completely changed. Borat himself is still offensive. That goes without saying. But when you stop and view the overall context of the movie, it's quite masterful. The scenes they show in the commercial don't nearly do justice to the film. I rank this as being as relevant as "The Aristocrats", a similarly offensive film. In "The Aristocrats" one comedian mentions that the way the person tells the raunchy joke that gives the film its title will tell you about the person. If they tell a lot of jokes about sh*t, you don't want them as a houseguest. If they tell it involving the elderly, you don't want the person working in a retirement home. Etc.

Borat is the same way. It serves as a mirror for your own biases and prejudices. I saw it on a trip to Oklahoma to visit family. Now, anyone who has spent any time in Oklahoma knows that it isn't the most gay friendly state. So is it any surprise that the scene that got the biggest reaction was some naked wrestling?

It is the kind of film that is guaranteed to offend everyone. But what offends you may differ from what offends others. I know I've discussed it before, and the point is not to rehash it here, but many people are suing him over their appearance in the film. The most common complaint is that they thought the film would be shown overseas. Show me the complaint that says their words were taken out of context. So they are saying that because they thought they were dealing with a backwards man from a backwards nation, their words are acceptable? THAT is exactly Sacha Baron Cohen's point. We believe that there is a place on earth where they have the "Running of the Jew" and keep animals in the house, but make fun of their neighbors because they don't have the latest Ipod.

I've turned from thinking that Sacha Baron Cohen is an unfunny low-brow comedian to thinking that he is the Jonathan Swift for the modern, reality tv generation.