What are the Caucasus and the Caucasians for me? First of all, it is my home, my grandfather and grandmother, my father and mother. It is what I admire and am proud of. Here I was taught to love people, beautiful nature, to respect adults, to listen and follow old people's advice. To love my motherland, be proud of its beautiful nature and respect for people, who did a lot not only for my country, but for humanity in general. Magomayev, Okudzhava, Aznaur.
Not to classify people according to their nations, but to see the most beautiful sights in him or her. To take care of our little brothers and sisters, and when grown-up – of our parents and grandparents. To establish a new strong family, of course, with the blessing of our mother and father.
To love our mother above all things. When I went to school, each year started with an essay called “Mother,” i.e. how we understand this word, how we help her and why this word is sacred. When we became adults, we understand that, after God, a mother is the most respected creature. Heaven lies under mothers’ feet. For a man to be buried not near his mother’s grave, but under her feet, is happiness. I had no secrets from my mother. Ahead of exams in university or life exams we would get a blessing from mother and go confidently into difficult and sometimes dangerous undertakings. A mother’s blessing is the obvious reason for success. If an undertaking is pleasing to God and blessed by a mother, any evil forces fail.
What is a father in the Caucasus? He is an example of courage and strength, a symbol of male beauty. I remember when I was a boy, me and my friends discussed the muscular arms of our fathers. It was such a pleasure to hear from local boys: “You father, Ali, is so strong.” He managed to chop a tree with one axe strike into two equal halves. Normally fathers talk rarely to their children. We communicated with him through looks. But only one of father’s looks was enough to make the right conclusions and behave humbly, for example, on a visit. There is no practice of lifting ones hand against not only a daughter, but also a son. Even if he is guilty. Traditions of bringing up a son stress that fear must not enter a child’s heart, he should not be fearful. In any other case he cannot be a true man, who can protect his family and country. Between parents and children there is a curtain of respect always. Both parents and children mind their behaviour and words. It is a norm of family ethics.
You cannot speak loud in the presence of parents, no matter whether you are five or fifty years old. Marriage blessings are given by fathers through mother’s lips. A young couple knew that they can get married only once. Even if at first family life seemed difficult, you had to go through this path of mutual compromises, to preserve the family and raise children, to be an example for them.
Ismail Aga-Kishi, expert of VK
