macca2 started a thread elswhere on the BB entitled: "What is this?". Reminded me of the following story

In the old Soviet Union, the authorities did not treat their Jewish citizens well. In particular, they made it nearly impossible for Jews to emigrate to Israel. Those who tried and were refused exit visas by the Soviet bureaucracy were known as refuseniks. However, many refuseniks persisted and some of the older ones eventually were able to obtain the necessary documentation and leave the USSR.

Levi gets his exit visa. At Moscow airport he joins the long queue as officials inspect everyone’s baggage. Picking up a heavy object from Levi’s few belongings, the fist-faced Soviet apparatchik says:

“What is this?”

“Not ‘What is this’” says Levi. “ ‘Who is this?’ This is a bust of the great Lenin, the great Vladimir Illyich Ulyanov, the saviour of the Soviet people, the leader of the masses!”

The Soviet official puts down the bust and waves Levi through.

When he arrives at the airport in Tel Aviv, the Israeli customs officer picks up the bust and says: “What is this?”

“Not: ‘What is this’” says Levi. “ ‘Who is this?’ This is a bust of Lenin, the Great Bastard, the scourge of the Jewish people of Russia, the leader of the oppressors!”

The Israeli customs officer puts down the bust and waves Levi through.

Levi’s nephew collects him and takes him home. As he is helping his aging uncle to unpack his meagre belongings, Levi’s nephew picks up the bust of Lenin and says:

“Who is this?”

“Not: ‘Who is this?’” says Levi. “ ‘What is this?’ This is 2½ kilos of gold I smuggled out of Russia from right under the noses of those bastard’s!”