When the modern history of Ukraine - that time immediately after independence - is written, who will be the heroes, who will be the Founding Fathers who kept the dream alive?
One might joke, darkly, that such could only be observed with a microscope and a specimen slide.
But this is the question at the tail end of a war where there have been many heroes, none the least the British, American and Kurdish troops, not to mention the maligned man I called the "accidental president."
George W. Bush and his team rightly carried on during a tidal wave of negative world opinion against an Iraqi war. Most often, interviews with peace protesters elicited a comment about the President's intellect.
He was considered, in a word, dense. A boorish sort of fellow who couldn't carry on a conversation with a relatively smart Aardvark, much less the intellectual lights of Europe.
It is interesting that most chose to attack Bush with these kidney punches and groin kicks; which, in essence, seems nonsensical in attacking someone who somehow, someway landed in the U.S. Presidency.
While I have thoroughly disliked a few who have served in the White House--one called Nixon comes to mind --calling them idiots would be to unmask one's own immaturity, if not stupidity.
In other words, you don't get there not being able to match up the squares and the round pegs. This, by the way, has nothing to do with egghead scholastics, but a lot to do with the old fashion word wisdom.
That aside, no matter Republican or Democrat, and I do call myself a die-hard Democrat, the resolve of George Bush and Tony Blair has made the world a safer place to live as of the second week in April.
A message has been delivered loud and clear and, more important, specific.
The unthinkable a rogue nation might actually be contemplating will be served back ten-fold. The axis of evil - a term I despise because it negates wiggle room - was even expanded to Syria.
In my view this was a brilliant stroke - to remind Iran, North Korea and Mr. Assad of Syria - about consequences. Power is best used when left on the shelf, but some nations need to be reminded it is on the shelf.
This all brings me back to Ukraine, a country of promise, but one also of missed opportunity. If trying times make heroes, why haven't they emerged in the 12 years since independence.
Who are Ukraine's Founding Fathers? In 200 years, how will history judge Kravchuk, Kuchma and the legions of prime ministers including Yuschenko and a former deputy PM, the lady Tymoschenko. Will any one of them stand out, or is that person on another of history's pages.
America's Founding Fathers were far from perfect. They were shaped by their times and all - with the possible exception of Aaron Burr - could be considered superstars in today's supercharged lexicon.
It might even be said that they would have languished in obscurity if they had lived in England during this period. Perhaps a couple - Washington and Jefferson - would have been non-titled aristocracy.
But they were ordinary men. They were petulant and petty. Burr, when vice president, killed another, Alexander Hamilton, the first Treasury Secretary, in an illegal dual over very nebulous insinuations.
Benjamin Franklin, who admonished others with "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy and wise", was rather lazy, we now learn, and was a self-promoter above all else.
Thomas Jefferson, America's third president was, at best, wishy-washy, at worst, duplicitous. He spoke of freedom and equality for all, but yet refused to release his own slaves from his benevolent bondage.
John Adams, America's second president, was the most common of men, coming as he did the son of a shoemaker and farmer. He was less the personality than the personage. He got things done.
However, their times shaped them, and in total, they were what might be called "the best and the brightest". In the wake of war, George Bush and Tony Blair have shown themselves to have "a finest hour."
One can only wonder about Ukraine's Founding Father revealing himself - or herself as the case might be - and if not in these rather trying times, then when.
History's clock is ticking.
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