The Silly, Sappy, Innocent Face Of Israel They Don't Get To See

Countless times each day I find myself seeing, hearing, tasting... experiencing something that I wish I could somehow share with people around the world.

If asked, most of them would say that Israel is a drab, desolate, strife-torn concrete and barbed-wire war zone.  Because that's what the media (even those outlets nominally friendly to Israel's cause) shows them.

And all the official and grassroots efforts to package and export images of an Israel full of vibrant history, ancient archaeology, religious splendor, technical entrepreneurship, scientific innovation, medical breakthroughs, etc., fall flat, because of the "yeah,... but..." factor (as in, "Yeah, I know Israel is ___________, but I saw/heard/read that..."

Those negative images and messages reinforced daily in the media are virtually unshakable, and will not be overcome by the most inspired positive 'Hasbara' (propaganda).  Or so I have always assumed.

And then I saw a silly, sappy commercial for an Israeli Drug Store chain, trying to sell a new model of shaving razors... and I realized that it is this simple sappy, silliness that could potentially get in under the programmed prejudices and defenses of the misinformed masses and start to allow people to see and understand how wonderfully normal (and beautiful) Israel really is.

I'd be interested to hear what you think: