This is the anonymous with the brother, and I also found his comments bizarre given what I know about his generally openminded personality, but I believe that is because you and I and everyone who reads these middle east focused blogs are seeking out information about the region. I think it is hard for us to get into the mindset of those who don't spend a lot of their free time thinking about this region. I am from Seattle, and I definitely know a lot of people who are in same the boat as this brother of mine. To this new Anonymous: I totally agree about the new cliche, though nowadays I usually just sit with my mouth shut through any conversation dealing with Israel (I haven't mentioned my other big brother's views, which are FAR to the anti-Israeli left of the one I discussed above; I think his intense unwillingness to entertain any view other than his own just wore me down eventually). I respect people who are willing to try to present this view, but I am generally too chicken to dissent when dealing with this heated topic.