I don't remember what grade I was in when we read Edward Everett Hale's 1863 short story, 'The Man Without a Country', but I do remember that, despite the fact that it was fiction, it read like a true story. That story is coming true for Edward Snowden.

In the story, the protagonist Philip Nolan, is tried for treason. During his trial, Nolan renounces his country and is promptly set adrift, never to hear of his country again. With today's mass communications that scenario would be impossible, but the thread of the story is still there.

Whether you or I think Snowden is a hero or traitor is pretty much immaterial at this point. The fact remains that, for better or worse, the man is truly a 'man without a country.'

As of this post, Snowden is reported to be basically living in a Russian airport. His request for asylum has been rejected by several countries and the one's that have offered any kind of deal add that he must make his request on their soil. Well, there's a real catch -22 eh? One country has even offered him citizenship.

Flickr/colerise
Flickr/colerise
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The offer of citizenship has come from Iceland, but that 'catch 22' comes with the same stipulation that he be on their soil. The problem is basically one of transportation. Snowden doesn't dare board any kind of airplane since he could win up in the hands of authorities and be sent back to America.

Until something is settled, Edward Snowden will continue to be a 'man without a country' and living in a Moscow airport. On the up-side, Tom Hanks could play him in a movie. I believe Hanks has experience with playing a man living in an airport.

 

 

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