Today, the United States marks an extraordinary milestone—its 250th anniversary. On this occasion, I would like to offer not merely a customary congratulation, but a deeply personal reflection. It is shaped by a single sentence from the Declaration of Independence of 1776:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence · July 4, 1776
For our family, these are far more than eloquent words preserved in history books.
Dana and I have devoted a significant part of our lives to America. It is here that we built our family. Our children were born in this country, and today they are forging their own futures on opposite coasts—in New York and San Francisco. We also dedicated many years to American medicine and scientific research. I spent much of my professional life in healthcare, while Dana graduated from Johns Hopkins University. That is why I view this anniversary not as a distant observer, but as someone who has experienced America from within—its institutions, its values, and its aspirations. Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, and above all, Justice—these are the principles we hope will continue to shape the future of our children and generations yet to come.
How a Nation Was Born
The story of America's Founding Fathers and the creation of the Declaration of Independence has always fascinated me.
In his original draft, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "We hold these truths to be sacred." But Benjamin Franklin, with his unmistakable, sweeping printer's hand, firmly crossed out the word "sacred" and replaced it with "self-evident."
In the revision of a single word, an entirely new vision of a nation emerged—a country where human rights would rest not upon religious doctrine or authority from above, but upon reason, common sense, and the inherent dignity of every individual.
From that principle grew two of America's defining ideas: the American Dream and the concept of the commons. Though different in form, they are inseparable strands woven into the same national fabric.
Benjamin Franklin did not merely write about these ideals—he embodied them. In Philadelphia, he united ordinary craftsmen, merchants, and citizens to create what we now recognize as the foundations of civil society: the city's first volunteer fire brigade, its first public hospital, and a library where the wealthy and the poor read the very same books. When Franklin died, the entire city accompanied him to his final resting place, and at the head of the funeral procession walked clergy representing every denomination, side by side. That, perhaps, is the truest meaning of the commons—the daily work of building a society where people belong to one another.
The Steppe and the Prairies: What Connects Kazakhstan and America?
Over the years, I have often found myself reflecting on how remarkably similar the Great Steppe and the American prairies truly are.
Across centuries, these vast landscapes shaped people of strikingly similar character—independent, resilient, and deeply devoted to freedom.
The Kazakh nation emerged from the Steppe in search of liberty. Is that story so different from the pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic in pursuit of the same ideal?
Our Steppe has long been a place where diverse beliefs coexisted—from Tengrism and Buddhism to Nestorian Christianity and Islam. That tradition of openness mirrors the very pluralism Benjamin Franklin regarded as essential to a healthy and flourishing society.
Even in symbolic ways, the connections endure. The US Library of Congress carefully preserves nineteenth-century daguerreotypes of the Kokand Khanate, alongside works by Mukhtar Auezov published in the Kazakh language. They are quiet reminders of a slender yet enduring thread that has long connected our two nations.
The Great Challenge of Our Time
Today, this resonance between our cultures feels more meaningful than ever.
Kazakhstan has recently entered a new constitutional era, and we now face a question remarkably similar to the one America's Founding Fathers confronted 250 years ago: how do we build a society where every individual enjoys equal dignity and equal opportunity? How do we ensure that the nation's essential goods—not only healthcare and education, but also clean air, justice, and the protection of the law—are genuinely available to everyone rather than reserved for the privileged few?
At the same time, American history offers not only inspiration but also cautionary lessons.
Today the United States is experiencing a troubling period of growing social stratification. Political and cultural polarization continues to deepen, while social media algorithms increasingly draw citizens into isolated "rabbit holes," amplifying division in pursuit of commercial profit and political populism.
The consequences are sobering. Whereas nearly 80 percent of Americans born in the 1950s ultimately earned more than their parents, for those born in the 1980s that probability has fallen below 50 percent. Declining social mobility inevitably breeds frustration, resentment, and mutual distrust.
Yet history also demonstrates America's remarkable capacity for renewal. Time and again, the nation has drawn strength from the principles established by its Founding Fathers, confronting crises through self-correction and emerging stronger, more united, and more prosperous.
A Lesson for the Future
Many believe that economic efficiency alone guarantees national prosperity. Economic growth and rising wealth are undeniably important. Yet the highest purpose of prosperity is not simply to accumulate riches—it is to build a society that is stable, compassionate, and fair, where people can flourish and live together in harmony.
Such a society cannot exist unless every child, regardless of the circumstances of birth, begins life with genuine opportunity. Justice must never remain an abstract ideal. It must become a principle practiced every day.
John Hancock, 1776"We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together."
Benjamin Franklin, in reply"Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."
That challenge remains as relevant in 2026 as it was in 1776. In an age of global uncertainty and turbulence, unity has become not simply a virtue, but a necessity.
When I look at the young people of Kazakhstan, I see intelligence, courage, confidence, and ambition. I see a generation that meets the world eye to eye, unburdened by feelings of inferiority or fear. My greatest hope is that we build a country worthy of them—a nation where every child knows that honest work will be rewarded, where talent can flourish, and where the next generation will live better than the one before it.
Thank you, America, for the enduring power of your ideals. And for us—the heirs of the Great Steppe—I wish that justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility become the solid foundation upon which we build one united people and one prosperous nation.