Oh, I see you still have your NANSEN PASSPORT

[dochermes]

A slightly obscure bit of history! In 1921, Lenin revoked the citizenship of an estimated 800,000 Russian expatriates, an act which the NEW YORK TIMES described as "a dick move." (Okay, that last part I added, just to liven the account a little.) These unfortunates were left stranded in a sort of political limbo, since they would be stuck forever

Comments

[jhall1]

I'd heard of Nansen as a polar explorer, but I hadn't known that he had a subsequent career as a diplomat.

[mlknchz]

"I'm a drunkard; that makes me a Citizen of the World"

[pronker]

Fascinating person - and Stravinsky, Chagall, Pavlova, all benefited. Excellent post, thanks.

[dochermes]

We're mostly concerned with frivolous, trivial items here but now and then, we touch on history.

[wt_1]

He may not look like a Rasmussen, but he does look like that rare kind of man who can hold his own in a fair fight against one.