Two questions. Often Soviet authorities will brand a person as a “cosmopolite” in order to signify his or her lack of good Soviet citizenship. Why? What pejorative connotations does this word have in their minds? Second, they often seem to use “hooliganism” as a specific criminal charge like theft or assault, although the term as we use it is vague, covering a host of activities. What types of crime(s) does it cover? –Jonathan Lamal, Los Angeles
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Those of us who are fastidious about these things, Jonathan, always say “cosmopolitan,” “cosmopolite” being a too-literal translation of the Russian kosmopolit. Also, you seldom see “cosmopolitan” without “rootless” stuck in front of it like a cheap cigar. The significance of the term is clear to any Russian. It means the Jews, and has since the beginning of the Soviet state, and probably earlier.
Jews have been persecuted off and on throughout Soviet history, notably by Stalin in the 30s and again during the “Doctor’s Plot” in the early 50s, which involved several Jewish doctors who allegedly plotted against the dictator’s life. Officially, of course, the Soviet Union does not single out ethnic groups, hence the need for code words. A University of Chicago professor with whom I chatted on this subject recalls that a friend of his who is Jewish was once arrested in the Soviet Union for speculating (in books, of all things). The authorities officially described the friend as “a thin, agile brunette,” which we can be sure made the situation quite clear to all concerned.
I have subjected countless people to this same question. To this day one friend insists they are called “waterballs.” However, based on my extensive data, the correct term is “snowglobes.” –H.G. from D.C.
