you know what. So instead of vehemently disagreeing with the writer in a number of ways, I'll just draw your attention to his picture. Now tell me if you really think he actually makes any sense out of what's written here. Svinite pozhalsto! Russia wins = NO smile = NO freedom = NO State of Israel = NO Press you can write baloneys for.

Left wing, liberal, Tel Aviv wanna-be, pseudo educated trying to shock and show off. Don't we have enough of those in this country already. Maspik! :)) Now let venture a few more guesses: Ever lived in Moscow? NO Ever spoken to independent Russian journalists about freedom of expression and freedom of press? NO Ever spoken to Human Rights activists in Russia? NO What are you blabbering about again? Never mind. Really...that' all... it really doesn't matter... this article is just a huge pile of nonsensical words put together...

I and other humans are 100% with you. Seriously! Thanks for expressing my thoughts sebhel PS Real respect for others, (Alas "they" have tried to bastardise this word, by demanding it for themselves)

Is that what you're saying here, Mr. Shaked? That because *their* management is just as self-serving and ineffective as ours, we should rejoice and call them brothers? We should be improving ourselves, not rejoicing at having discovered another Utopia of horrible managers! And the cold, calculating, machine-logic of the Russian politicians is not something to aspire for. And French waiters? They don't smile because being a snob is part of the job! It brings class to French restraunts! Being looked down upon by a French waiter is practically part of the cultural experience - nothing to do with being "civilized". If anything, quite the opposite. I prefer a fake smile to an honest calculus engine in human form. The engine may be honest, but it'll crunch you up like the number it takes you to be.

People ask their emplyees to smile at their customers because it is a simple and friendly gesture that shows you appreciate their business. And while it may be a small thing, it can be the small difference in having a person pick your business over another. Israel you can go on believing that holding doors open for people, exchanging pleasantries, and now smiling are unenlightened, while the rest of the world will see you as backwards for it. As Ariel Sharon once said on the matter, "It's Israel's loss." By the way, Russia is a country where if you accidentally step on someone's foot, they have to step on yours in return, even if you apologize. To most of us unenlightened Americans, this behavior is simply childish and doesn't mark a "thinking people".

You will like the Russian smile when Russian nuclear warheads will be in Syria. Then you will come begging the smiling Americans.

Russians never smiled because they never had anything to smile about. Think about it. Its stil doom and gloom over there. Its good business sense to smile to a paying customer. But USA friendlyness can be a bit corny and shallow at times...

Is this guy really serious? This could just be the stupidest article i have ever read in my entire life. It has no meaning whatsoever. You are rooting for a corrupt nation in a war because they don't smile when they serve coffee!??!?

This article doesn't work as humour, if that's what it's intended to be. Nor does it succeed as serious opinion. Even someone with a low-paying job should be cheerful when interacting with others. Even the lowest man on the totem pole is an ambassador for the establishment at which he works. No employer would want to hire disgruntled employees who take their jobs for granted and make customers feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. There's honour and dignity even in the humblest of occupations. There's no excuse for taking one's misery out on others and making a paying customer feel your pain. That customer doubtless has pain of his own. Better to take pride in one's job, do it well, and be good-natured, rather than mope and be unpleasant. Moreover, linking the value of a smile with the Russian-Georgian conflict is asinine. I'm surprised something so insipid could even be published. Surely there are more thoughtful and compelling arguments one could make in an attempt to convince readers to side with the Russians. From what I've read, soldiers on both sides are guilty of atrocities. The importance of this conflict for the world, however, is the potential aggression of a resurgent Russian bear. Determining which side of the conflict should receive the lion's share of blame is less significant than ensuring that Russian aggression can be kept in check.

Raannan, You must be having a bad day in the office sitting on your thumb typing with one finger. Man, no wonder you are not happy. I've got a better idea! Sit on both thumbs and type with your forehead, that way people can see you've got some intelligence in that numbskull of yours.

I grew up in Europe where most people walk around as if some disaster were right around the next corner. (Come to think of it, maybe there is.) Give me my American smiles, that Southern drawl and several daily doses of "how're y'all doin' today," and I, too, grin from ear to ear. And if you don't like that $6 an hour job, you're free to try something else. I pay a 17 year old highschool kid $45 for 2-3 hours of cutting my grass. I smile every time I see him, and he smiles every time I pay him. Oh, and smile or not, I wouldn't pay anybody $3 or $4 for a cup of coffee by any name, especially in a cardboard cup. Speaking of coffee, I drink the stuff from morning till night, and I nearly went broke the first, last and only time I went back to Europe. They don't know the terms "refill" and "warm-up."

Smile and the world smiles back. . . some people see the world with their tainted dark glasses and some see it with all its beauty. Some people see Russian Emperialistic Vicious Oil Grab as Liberating a South Occetian people and Some people see it as Emperialistic Vicious Oil and Land Grab into a sovreign nation that is militarily weaker. Some people call that Bullying. . . some people call that KGB strong arm tactics some people call that tyranny and they would be right F . . . the Russian Evil Empire

Dear Americans, smiling is good and desirable, we all agree. This article is not about sincere smiles, but fake ones you invented, smiles that reflect your corrupted and fake sole, your ever growing hypocrisy and your cache poisoned mind. After the II WW America has waged 28 wars, while Russia far less than that, so you don't have any rights to criticize Russia. What, morale, what the f is that? And almost forgot, this article is about American ignorance above all.

coffee, sandwiches, to poison people with. They SMILE because they think that is funny to spit into salads and sell egg salad sandwiches with botulism. I have been poisoned at three Starbucks in two different cities, so I gag when I see a Starbucks sign, now. When a girlfriend who is a lawyer and I went to a Starbucks and had coffee latte, we both got deathly ill. It took several quart bottles of Flor-Essence detoxicant tea at thirty dollars a bottle to get the poison out of my system. Maybe just old people and the police get poisoned in restaurants, but getting a SMILE with such shinanigans is disgusting. Now, I brew coffee at home or I don't drink it.

The American smile is one reason for American capitalistic success. Whether the smile is real or not, if the whole society smiles, it will automoaticaly be a saner and better society to live in.

And Yisraeli (#8)...SPOT ON!

Americans enjoy having service with a smile. There is nothing better to one's day than having somebody smile at him. You should try it in Israel sometime. In fact, educated or otherwise intelligent people understand this. Raanan obviously is close-minded and needs to get out more. Pleasantries such as smiles help people enjoy their lives, no differently than nice haircuts or pants. Is there a reason for a nice haircut? The American smile has much meaning, and many 'worldy' Israelis that have visited me in the US enjoy it. What is important to Americans may not be as important to Israelis as clothing or the latest cars or electronics, but just as some American arrogance and stupidity can be labeled as ugly, so can Israeli arrogance and stupidity. Raanan has both those qualities in his superficial world. And he writes for a newspaper?

What drivel and nonsense. Can this be a serious newspaper?

For you Americans who are offended by some silly nonsense, it would be wise not to assume that all Israeli or even most would agree with Shaked. Furthermore, to make such sweeping comdemnations about Israels is no less ridiculous. This is one man's ill consider, ignorant column- no less- and certainly no more.

get used to it ; and at first, it is a little shocking. One of the things that was fun for me in Israel was getting a Russian Israeli clerk to smile. One had to come back again and again to see that happen. It was not that they were unhappy. They just want smiles to have a meaning and a place.

This is probably the dumnest article yet written on the subject of Russia. Well done.

As Ahmedenijad to the Mahdi, so America to democracy. The Taliban was Americas billion dollar creation - just to stop Russia. Saddam was an American acolyte turned bad -guy. Track their "independant free media". America now has brought us Iran. Americas "democracy" got us nobodys turned world player radicals such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Americas "democracy" broke up Serbia. America has almost single-handedly ( unilaterally ) brought upon the world in-calculable damage by legitamizing the idea of a Sharia ruled world, a fundamentalist Islamic Caliphate. God dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah. Will Putin do Gods job and bring these arrogant suicidal idtiots to earth ?

.i was in egypt when presedent sadat was on top of goverment may be in 71 .on a theater i saw a show about rusian and american the rusian apeared without emotions idiot . but americans are kind intelligent ... i did not like that show .becouse it was a political design .not a social one .. and in mine openion to be honest in your strict behavior is better than smiling and cunning .it is in social life .. but in political is another problem

The last job I had before starting my own business was at a Manufacturing plant in Littleton Colorado. It was a lonely job because I had no one to talk to. All the other employees were speaking Russian. It seemed they couldn't find work in Russia, not even a Starbucks. They had to leave Russia and come to America. The other alternative was to watch their family starve. My advice to the writer of this article is to have a good cup of coffee and lay off the coolaid.

though it has little to do with the conflict in georgia and why we should actually root for the russians, you, raanan have an insightful mind and you are very clever in your description of american smiles. what is important to add, and consider, in my opinion is how these two coutries have historically treated Jews. American wins, no contest. Russia could end up being a very serious problem for Israel.

I remember coming to the Temple for the first time wearing a cross. The rabbi looked at me kind of strange. Then another guy told me to go to Catholic church instead.. Go figure.. They can not understand religion freedom there. Smiles? Forget it. Even fake ones. In France I walked all over the place with kippah and a big cross. Evereybody were respectful and polite. We definetly cal learn from those "crazy" Russians and French..

Of course, all people keep thinking, with few exceptions as the author of this article who seems to have an underveveloped mind. Yedioth Aharonot let any stupid comment to be published? Who cares?