Some believe that ethnic affiliation is more important than citizenship. That a Kazakh from the USA or France is closer than, say, a Russian, Ukrainian, or German who is a citizen of Kazakhstan.
But I think differently. For me, citizenship outweighs nationality.
And for us, as citizens of Kazakhstan, this should matter more than any ethnic differences.
We should feel …
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n one episode of the series Black Mirror, a world is depicted where everyone has gadgets that allow them to rate each other – not on social media, but in real life. Smile at a passerby, yield to someone, help a neighbor – they give you five stars. Be rude, insult, or deceive – they give you one star. …
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There’s a lot of discussion about artificial intelligence these days. Almost none of these conversations avoid concerns about rising unemployment. The most common questions are: which professions will “die out” soon due to AI, what’s no longer worth studying, and so on.
These questions often carry a negative tone. Many people genuinely fear that AI will leave millions jobless, cast …
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In Kazakhstan, as in many predominantly Muslim countries, it is customary to perform circumcision on boys at a young age for religious reasons.
I believe this is wrong, as it essentially constitutes violence against children. At 3–5 years old, a child does not yet understand their religious identity and cannot make an informed choice. They are defenseless against the will …
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Our hospitality is well known far beyond the borders of our country. It originated back in the times when we were nomads and lived separately from other families for long periods throughout the year. In such circumstances, a rare traveler who reached a nomad’s camp seemed like a small miracle. He brought news from nearby areas or even distant lands …
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Among Kazakhs, there is an old tradition: on the day after the wedding, the groom’s family invites their close relatives and seats the newlywed bride at the head of the table, right by the doorway, to serve tea to the guests.
It’s clear that this tradition originally emerged, first of all, to introduce the bride to the groom’s close relatives, …
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One of my relatives, a devout Muslim who observes fasting, lives in a regional center of Kazakhstan. He told me that every year, with the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, a certain tradition is upheld in their region.
On the first day of fasting, the regional akimat organizes an iftar (evening meal to break the fast) at the …
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It’s well known that “tois” (celebrations) are an integral part of Kazakh national culture. This tradition dates back to ancient times, when nomads used major life events — such as weddings, childbirth, and so on — as long-awaited opportunities to reunite with relatives and friends, to socialize and strengthen ties.
However, over time, “tois” have taken on a different meaning. …
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To many of our men, Europeans seem like weaklings who can’t stand up for themselves. In case of conflict, they don’t “settle things like men,” they don’t fight — they go straight to the police. In our culture, this kind of behavior is often seen as a sign of weakness.
But in reality, it’s the flip side of being civilized. …
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Recently, I witnessed a heated debate between two of my friends.
One condemns Zelensky for his “stubbornness” and unwillingness to compromise. He believes that the reality of global politics is that powerful states dictate the terms to everyone around them, while weaker states have no choice but to accept this, maneuver between the giants, appease them, and find ways to …
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