Chris, OK, we are on the same page. Dealing with the Czars' legacy is very delicate here - to say the least. I will remain willing to error on the side of caution until the Russians themselves get their history right. This will take at least another generation or more, if not longer.  A consensus regarding Russia's historical narrative here will take a very long time - and it depends how, firstly,on  how Yeltsin and Putin will be remembered.   All of this can go anywhere...... <blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> Whoa Peter! I did NOT say that they should be restituted or that 1917-era Tsarism was a good thing! _IF_ they, or some of them, decide to come back, it would be as private citizens with whatever wealth (or lack thereof) they currently possess and they would have no special status, although I would imagine someone might try to work his or her way into business or politics. If they want to come back, why shouln't they? They can't be barred at the border. I do think, however, that some of the Romanovs (Peter I, Catherine the Great, the Tsar Liberator) definitely deserve some monuments. Peter I deserves way better than the atrocious Tsereteli statue. It's like Rome with no statues of the Caesars. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk </blockquote> <hr size=1>Get your email and more, right on the <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42973/*http://www.yahoo.com/preview"> new Yahoo.com</a>