When KTE made its first public post on Instagram a year ago, it was unclear exactly what the goal of our organization would be. We knew our principles; we were young Greek Orthodox men searching for a way to find meaning and authentically reconnect with our homeland. However, beyond our core principles, we weren’t sure exactly how we would actualize these core beliefs.
Since our founding, the vision has become very clear, and we feel that this is an excellent time to share our vision for this organization with our loyal and faithful followers. Primarily, we are Orthodox Christians. Before we can organize the state, the nation, or the family, we must organize the individual and collectively come closer to Christ. KTE wants to encourage the already very apparent resurgence of Orthodox Christianity within the Greek community and beyond. We want to work hand in glove with the Greek Orthodox Church to promote religiosity within the Greek nation and continue to assist evangelization efforts abroad.
Secondly, we believe that the Greek diaspora has both a right and a responsibility to reconnect with our homeland. The Greeks living abroad have done an amazing job of maintaining a distinct cultural identity, resisting assimilation to a much greater degree than many other immigrant groups in the West. The Greek diaspora has been able to maintain many distinct and unique aspects of Greek culture while also immersing itself in the economic and educational systems of our respective countries. This unique combination of Western education and capital, juxtaposed by the traditional and patriotic inclinations of the Greek diaspora, makes for an especially useful group when compared to Greece’s current shortcomings. The Greek diaspora has not only earned the right to reengage with Greece, but the intention of the Greek diaspora to return to Greece comes at a time when assistance is sorely desired by the Greek state. KTE believes that organizations such as ours can both rally the Greek people to our cause and petition the current government to remove the barriers to entry for the Greek diaspora to return.
Thirdly, we see the Greek diaspora as the solution to the spiritual, economic, and political issues of Greece. KTE believes that in the event of a repatriation, the Greek state will benefit massively from the arrival of the well-educated and traditionally-minded diaspora. KTE wants to position itself as the voice of the Greek people and the Greek diaspora, working tirelessly to lift Greece up from its current global position and use the influence and resources of the diaspora to make Greece a great country.
Throughout Greeces history, especially in the post 1821 era, it has always seemed like Greece was an ascending power. Wars of reconquest, economic growth, and political stability were the norm in Greece throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. However, it seems like Greece is declining in almost every single sector. There seems to be practically zero areas of growth within Greece, with the notable exception of our economic revival after the financial crisis. In America there is a different story, the Greek diaspora has never been more educated and capitaled in its long history on this land. In fact, the third and fourth generation Greek Americans and Australians have transcended the success of previous generations, leaving the restaurants and diners behind to enter the professional world in massive numbers.
KTE believes that Greece has what the diaspora lacks, and the diaspora has what Greece sorely needs. While Greece itself can provide the diaspora with the religious and cultural infrastructure that they so crave, the diaspora can offer their ingenuity, industriousness, and capital in return.
This organization exists to bridge that gap in any way it can. First, by building awareness and consciousness among the Greek diaspora abroad. Secondly, by transitioning into real political action, both in Greece and abroad. Thirdly, by assisting the Greek people in any way possible, using our resources to better our communities, and encouraging integration and investment into Greece. Our dream is to actualize the massive potential of the Greek people and make Greece a modern superpower, built by the hard work and genius of the Greek people themselves.