It can't be for serious.

I think he is right. If Americans were thinking people, like the Russians, we would not be supporting a country like Israel over our own national interests, but times do change and perhaps we'll wake from our dream one day.

To sum up, Raanan Shaked is a Putz. I do not know if putz should be spelled with a capital or in lower case. It is the thought that counts, ncest pas? Certainly Raanan is not someone who should recieve an American smile, and I hope all of the coffee he is served across any counter, anywhere at any time, is cold, has an oily film on the top and has a cigaret butt floating in it.

You must be joking to publish an article as stupid as this. Is this person as shallow as the article makes out. ? As for Americans , we even smile after picking up the remains of Europe (WW1, WW2,Cold War, Etc.We smile when we see our own fine country VS the offall that Europe has become. The Russians seem to prefer to remain serfs with despots for rulers

In a tongue in cheek way I cant disagree with anything the author wrote. Much of America is virtual these days. Even their President elect Obama is a virtual candidate created for that purpose smiles and all. They profess to us genuine friendship full of smiles assuring us they will always protect us whilst at the same time arming our enemies, weakening us day by day with piss accords and gestures to our enemy, oh but all so nicely with a smile. When push comes to shove they will let us burn as Georgia or anyone else for that matter. Countries dont have friends, they just have personal interests, oh but with a nice broad smile of course with a "would you like chips with that Sir?" Its all business.

Have a nice day *wink*

The only thing more irritating than the american smile is the way their "language" has infiltrated English. What does "ROOTING for Russia" mean? What does it mean to "Medal" or "Podium" at the Olympics. I cringe at the way they speak. At least when they are smiling they can't slaughter the language.

you don't want to offend ynet english's readership which is 90 percent ultra-right wing american jews (it seems the few who do make aliyah tend to gravitate to baruch marzel's political sphere). i wonder why they insist on frequenting this site considering they always complain about how "leftist", "haredi-bashing" etc ynet is? i'm sure most thinking people would agree you have a point although you could have expressed it a little more politely.

yes, thanks a lot america for entering WWII three years AFTER it started and the extermination camps were long under operation! thanks to your wonderful companies like IBM and Chase Harriman bank which continued to provide material support to the Nazis theft and mass murder of jews long into the war. thank you also for NOT bombing auschwitz train tracks. thanks too for competing with the Soviets to get your hands on the "best" nazi scientists SS war criminals to recruit for nefarious activities in Europe and South America! naturally, i realise that Russia is a far worse country than America, but this idea of the USA as "the goldene medina" is a silly fantasy.

You are totally right! We must support the russians!

Ynet what is going on with you?

I am jewish, and visited Israel 20 times. It is not surprising that people like Shaked, who are israelis think like him. Israelis are one of the rudest people in the world, not knowing anything about good attention to customers. Americans might look silly, but at least they do not spit on clients, as israelis do.

What the hell, you want to prove something and you have your grounds on cultural issues, you are so biased! Where is objective writing? You are not an academical, nobody cares about you...

Wrong time. Bad taste.

Because of all the things to be frowning about this rates a zero. But I will tell the writer this about the Americans. When they poor teenager working for minimum wages realizes what the neocons in the Bush administration have done to them for Israel, they won't be smiling at Israelis for a long time. A new generation of angry Americans, angry at you. Cheers :) :) :) :) !

If that's the justification for keeping troops in Georgia, then the Russians had better be laughing -- at themselves.

Because I know a drunk bum on the street that can write articles a thousand times better than this guy.

Nothing like human suffering to make 'good Israeli humor'.

You are Russian like most of the Izraelies. Shut your mouth ,everybody knows that all war actions going on Georgia territory! And if you and all Russians are groomy it doesn't mean you know "value" of smile. It means you don't know it. All England,all Europe smile. You are so stupid

Whats the matter Raanan, did your American girlfriend breakup with you? Have you ever been to Japan? They have lots of fake smiles. The US did not invent the smile for service. Im sure the torah or Talmud would have a reference or two regarding service with a smile.

What kind of chickens*** analogy was that? The hard, cold world vs. the American service industry? If anyone is in need of a vital Realpolitik kick in their fat bottoms to cut the false nonsense, it is surely you & your fellow Israelis. What have all the Israeli smiles & goodwill & earnestness with the rest of world gained you the last no. of years? If anyone is suffering from a true loss of "respect" out there, it is you and yours, hands down. The next time you encounter a smiling American face, immediately remember also that is the face of your ONLY FRIEND ON THE PLANET and the long-running, ultimate guarantee of of your state, your family, and your life.

ripped off for 60 years so far.Not bad start though and it will be clearer when Iran will be attacked and you will have to pay 10 box for a gasoline gallon.

People are dieing and you make stupid jokes. Your mother must be proud of you.

Funny. Maybe. But smiling in various situations is worthy of emulation as a global cultural habit, even if it starts with Starbucks and Mac's cold-blooded greed. Neither in Israel, nor Russia, nor here, is the prospect of a Barack or Hilary as national leader remotely in view, and the eccentric, almost stochastic path to such achievements peculiar to that strange experiment called the U.S. may be what is called for at this time. And Russia should get out of Georgia forthwith, they are playing a good geopolitical chess-game.

Absolutely hilarious and true. I've lived in Canada and have the same perception. Smiles here are totally fake, almost insulting, not to mention propaganda against Russia. They have a great "democracy" here for $6/h. Some shity imigrant will do the job. What a joke! Get a few million $ and enjoy democracy in its fullest :). Total sham.