We used to laugh about what the French call “la Lepenisation des esprits”, the slow penetration of the ideas of extreme-right French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen into the general French population. Today, Le Pen’s focus on immigration, anti-foreigner, anti-European rethoric is part of the general debate ahead of French elections. Remember Sarkozy defining the young immigrants living in suburbs as “racaille”.

We also used to laugh about political correctness, that it was a joke, another thing imported from America. Well, maybe it’s time to stop laughing and start acting. The Daily Mail reports that the Holocaus is sometimes not taught in British schools anymore for fear of triggering anti-semitic reactions from Muslim students. That is “l’ayatollahisation des esprits”.

When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. Not only should the Holocaust - and every other major historical event - be taught to every kid, but it should be especially taught in those areas of the world that we call democracies and where the falsification of History is not a government-sponsored competition. The power of fear and power by intimidation have never worked on a sustained basis. Let’s not start another example here.

Rudy Giuliani, republican presidential candidate: “It is unclear which is farther along, Iran or North Korea, in the development of a nuclear weapons program”.

John McCain, republican presidential candidate said the security situation in Iraq had improved after he toured a market in Baghdad on April 1st. Mr McCain was protected on his stroll by 100 troops, five military helicopters and American rooftop snipers.

Reminder: the US president is also the commander-in-chief.

For those who live in caves, here is a quick update on where we stand in Ukraine. And for the children of the Cold War, be prepared, you gonna love this. Pure memorabilia.

Here is how the story goes:

1. The Prime minister of Ukraine gains more and more power in Parliament and pushes the President (they don’t like each other - beeeeh) in a corner

2. The President is upset: “aaaaahhhhhhh”. So he decides to fire the members of Parliament. “There will be new elections”, he says.

3. So the Prime minister says the President can’t do that and he’s a mean, bad boy.

4. In the meantime, several thousands people in the streets boooooooh one party or the other.

5. Ah, street pressure. Hmmm, not good. Politicians stay cool and decide to avoid a physical fight. Who comes to the rescue? The constitutional council. Who? Ah, yes, those who also said there was no fraud in the 2004 election. Ah, uh.

6. What does the constitutional council says? Well, in a sudden Soviet-style twist, the head decides to resign. Really? Now that your boring job is under the spotlight, you resign? “You must be joking”, says the President. “You refuse my resignation?” says the jurist? “Well, then I will just say that I am sick - seriously sick”. And believe it or not, this is really what happened.

7. So now, we are looking at the other suspects, I mean the other members of the council - some appointed by the President, others by the pro-prime minister Parliament. Oh, surprise, today, 5 members of the council resigned, all from the pro-President side.

8. Is this an air of 2004 fraud I smell again?

The current crisis in Ukraine is seen as both a tragedy and a farce by the Economist.

What the foreign observer sees as a farce is how demonstrations have been organized. Euronews everyday makes its headlines around them, and interviews some pro-government or pro-president supporters. This shows a lack of local knowledge and bad journalism. Don’t be fooled: most of the demonstrators have been paid to be there. Some 100 UAH - around US$ 20, are given to those who will come to shout a few slogans and carry a flag. Pick your color, both sides are doing the same.

That is not to say that there are no true supporters on each side, but a good number of them are either retired people or students, both of which are not exactly known to be on the high income side of the curve.

Is this typical of a young democracy? Probably. Is this a problem? Not really. I’ll repeat it here: Ukrainians just want to move on and get their country to develop itself, hoping that those in charge, whatever the camp, will be up to the job. No farce there.

Well there you go. President Yushchenko of Ukraine has dissolved the Rada, the Parliament, and has called for early elections. We are on for a nice political crisis, unless this gets resolved in the hallways, or with the help of the Constitutional Council. It may also be that the Parliament, who has decided to carry on its workings, manages to settle the case with the President.

The people I have talked to here in Kiev were all surprised by such a decision by Yushchenko and thought the political rivalry in the executive branch would not reach such a level. The coalition supporting the prime minisiter knew it had gained a lot of political power but seemed to have decided not to push it too far, at least not to a level where they could veto Presidential decisions. They could have done this, should they have gained the confidence of 300 Parlementarians (”super majority”), which they are closed to get, given shifting political alliances. But they thought they had gained enough power, and a battle with the head of state was not necessary.

One thing is sure: political roulette amuses only politicians. There is a clear willingnes here in the street to put Ukraine on the path forward. Political turmoil will only delay that.

Some friends know my love for good food and asked me what I was eating in Ukraine .

Uhhh, did you expect anything great? No, of course, otherwise we would have heard by now of Ukrainian cuisine. You see, this is where the difference between cuisine and food is very useful. There is French cuisine, but there is definitely only Ukrainian food.

Vareniki are some sort of dumplings. I thought that woud be nice to try so I went on Saturday to a restaurant specialized in those, thinking that the interesting thing would really be the filling. Well, lower your expectations, reader! Potato, cabbage, mushroom, pork, lamb, cottage cheese, goat cheese, beans. Yes, of course, the classics. Forget about zucchinis, eggplants, pumpkins or some intriguing mixes. Just the fact of being able to serve a dumpling filled with potato is already a bad sign…

Need more?

I was walking through a market and saw mostly two things on sale: honey and any parts of a pig that you could imagine. Hmmm, what should I bring back to the family in the US, as a souvenir? I wonder what the sniffing dog at the customs will prefer. Anyway, I am certainly not into Salo (pig fat), another local specialty.

Blinis? There are so many you can eat…

The late Atkins would certainly be bankrupt here. Or imprisoned.

It’s still early this Sunday morning 1 April in Ukraine, but the political rallies of yesterday do not indicate that Ukrainians will enjoy April’s fool jokes today. They may be lucid enough to laugh about Seinfeld TV serie’s George Costanza explaining his “Costanza doctrine” on the Financial Times website, or the “release” of the soundtrack of the Sound of Music by John Coltrane. But they would love to hear this morning that their country is becoming more stable and that their politicians are aligned in terms of what needs to be done for Ukraine.

The rallies yesterday were impressive. Thousands of people on the main street passing in front of the Parliament and ending up on Independence Square. Speeches were punctuated by rock bands and rap groups, keeping people motivated. Most of them supporting the coalition of President Yushenko against the coalition of Prime Minister Yanukovitch, arch-rival of the President.

What is surprising to a foreign observer is how the political timeframe has shrunk in Ukraine, over the past 3 years. Things have changed rapidly and people are impatient for results. In late 2004, people were demonstrating in the deep cold to demand fair elections, and brought Yushenko to power. But the momentum was quickly lost and Yushenko had to name Yanukovitch prime minister, when a tide reversed political blocks in the Parliament. And now, according to polls, the President’s allies would not even get a majority of the votes, were elections to be held today. Overall, it seems the country is quite divided even though commentators speak of some sort of agreement at the executive branch level.

What is even more thrilling is just to witness these events and feel a sense of history in the making, even though we are no way near the demonstrations of 2004.