Because the city on the hill is sinking.

There is great need for serious reform in Greece and beyond. Following in the footsteps of secular American extremism is a dangerous place to take the Greek nation, and yet it is the precise direction the country is headed if things do not change quickly.

Many Greeks residing abroad were stirred awake by the recent legalization of gay marriage in Greece, because it marked a concerning departure from its historically traditional society. Members of the diaspora have always looked to their homeland for direction as a bastion of Orthodox life and cultural enrichment – a place with four churches in every village – but just mere months ago, Greece took a big step in the wrong direction.

This stirred the foundations of KTE as a movement and necessitated the need for action. In truth, EU bureaucrats and forces of Western media pushed gay marriage onto Greece when the majority of the nation’s population remained against the concept – and in doing so, the democratic officials meant to defend the nation’s interests betrayed Greece.

Those of us in the diaspora should have a vested interest in the wellbeing of our homeland. We cannot remain idle as outside forces subordinate our values to the interests of those who are not Greek and are not Orthodox. Even as respected members of the Church demanded a referendum in the wake of the decision, our elected representatives let Greece down.

Being in the good graces of the EU is not more important than the will of the people and the purity of Greek tradition. Let it be said that this decision can and will have a lasting impact, just as it did in America in the 2010s, unless change comes in the form of a focused, unapologetic effort.

Greeks abroad have witnessed how quickly society devolved when gay marriage was legalized in 2015. Just over 10 years ago, the US voting population polled at 53% in favor and 46% against the issue. Now, after its legalization, the slope has become a true chasm. Gay marriage has gone from the privacy of the bedroom to the realm of parades and immoral sexual education in schools for young children.

The Trans Pride flag flying outside of Syntagma Square in Athens.

This unnatural lifestyle isn’t just legalized; it is celebrated and being taught to America’s youth. It’s the reason why 3.5% of American adults identified as gay in 2012 and just one decade later, 28% of Gen Z identify as such.

Now America is totally unrecognizable, and it can happen to Greece, too. Society will get more and more degenerate, and Greece’s elected officials have opened the floodgates. This should concern all of us.

To point to another historical example, the Bolsheviks in Russia didn’t stop at popularizing Leninist principles. What ensued was the destruction of religion, the destruction of tradition and the death of millions of Christians.

Now, these satanic and ultra-liberal forces have merely rebranded – they use unbridled consumerism and materialism to achieve their means. These tools may increase the GDP, but they are truly eroding society.

How can we stop this in Greece? It comes down to real political craftsmanship. Outside of Greece, there are literally millions of Greeks covering the earth with a genuine interest in the affairs of their homeland. In fact, especially in America, the Greek American community tends to be even more traditional and conservative than their native Greek counterparts.

There are millions of Greeks who love Greek culture, love Greek Orthodoxy, and they don’t want to see the country die. KTE intends to empower those people politically. We have a role to play here, and will not sit idly by on the sidelines.

It comes down to doing very simple things. We need to get our Greek citizenship. We need to be voting in Greek elections and reconnecting with our homeland politically. We need to show the Greek people and the world that Greece isn’t just some big resort. It is a real country with history and culture, and those things will not be destroyed.

KTE is a project founded by Greek Americans that has an obligation to protect Greece. We may not speak perfect Greek, but our blood says we are Greek, and we have a duty to revive our country.