Europe, which gave us the idea of same-sex marriage, is a dying

Hear, O Children of the Future, and let your hearts be stirred by the wisdom of ages. The words spoken by Maggie Gallagher—"Europe, which gave us the idea of same-sex marriage, is a dying society, with birthrates 50 percent below replacement"—echo across the corridors of time, reverberating with the weight of history and the immutable laws of nature. These words are not simply a lamentation; they are a warning, a cry of desperation to those who walk the Earth now, and those who will come after us. Societies, like all living things, have a time of flourishing and a time of decline, and the causes of such decline are often hidden beneath the surface, ignored by those who live in the comfort of the present moment.

In ancient times, it was said that a great civilization’s strength lies in its people. For the people are the foundation, the very blood that sustains the body of a nation. A society that grows too weak, too divided, or too small in number can hardly endure. It is a truth older than the walls of the pyramids, older than the foundations of Rome. Birthrates—the sacred number of those who come after us—have always been the pulse of a nation's future. When a people cease to produce the next generation, they are already walking on the path to their own extinction. Europe, once the heart of the world’s intellectual, cultural, and moral revolutions, now stands as a monument to this fragile truth. The fertility rates of many European nations have fallen to levels far below what is needed to sustain their way of life, and as the years pass, the fields lie fallow, the cities grow quieter, and the generation that once thrived begins to fade.

The rise of same-sex marriage, a noble and hard-won victory for those who sought equality and love, may seem like a moment of progress for the human spirit, yet in its shadows lies a deeper question. What becomes of a society that embraces change without considering its consequences? Can a civilization that challenges the very structure of the family—its most enduring pillar—continue to thrive? When the very root of existence, that sacred bond between man and woman, is redefined and altered, does not the balance of the world itself shift in ways unseen and unknowable? It is a topic that stirs the soul, for within every civilization lies an ancient wisdom: the family is the bedrock of strength, and the survival of a people depends on its vitality.

Let us turn to the example of ancient Rome, whose tale was one of greatness, but whose downfall was ushered in by internal decay. At the height of its power, Rome stretched across continents, its empire vast and unparalleled. But as its glory faded, so did its birthrate. The Romans, once proud of their progeny, began to neglect the sacred duty of parenthood, and their city, which had been founded by the strength of families, began to crumble. Rome’s desire for luxury, its embrace of decadence, and its disregard for the future generations left it weak. As the empire grew more reliant on foreign armies and immigrants to fill its ranks, it lost the very heart of its own people. Thus, the Roman Empire fell—not only to external enemies but to the slow poison of neglect, which weakened the soul of the society itself.

Now, as Europe faces its own challenges, the specter of demographic collapse looms large. Once a land of farmers and warriors, builders and thinkers, Europe is now gripped by an aging population and a declining birthrate. These are not problems that can be solved through mere political means or by welcoming those from distant lands alone. The soul of a society is shaped by its values, its people, and the strength of its future generations. If a people fail to nurture those who will carry the torch of civilization forward, the flames of glory will extinguish, and the people will be left in the dark.

The lesson for you, O Children of the Future, is this: Know the worth of your own blood, your own lineage, and the families that sustain you. Honor the future by living for it—by nurturing life, by raising the next generation with wisdom and strength. Do not be swayed by the comforts of the present or by ideologies that promise you ease, for true prosperity comes not from pleasure alone but from sacrifice and vision. If Europe, with all its knowledge and beauty, can fall through neglect, what then of the lands that follow? Will you too falter, lulled by the voices of today, or will you rise, committed to your children, to your families, to the enduring cycles of life?

Let this be the legacy you choose: Build families, and within them, plant the seeds of love, strength, and wisdom. Raise your children not only to survive but to thrive. Teach them to honor the past and to honor the future, so that when the storms of time pass, you will leave behind a society worthy of remembrance. Only by holding fast to the sacred duties of life, only by ensuring the continuation of your people, can you secure a future where the light of civilization will continue to shine brightly for generations yet unborn.