In almost all societies, family per se is widely seen as the nucleus of society. In my Middle Eastern society, for example, the bulk of young men look forward to getting married and having wholesome families. However, most Americans are of another opinion. The structure of their families has changed dramatically in a short span of time. It is hardly to find two parents and their two or more children are living together under the ceiling of one house. Their overriding concern is their personal pleasure even if it is at the expense of their respective families. Their nuclear families, which are the dominant feature of the familial structure, are scattered despite the fact that humans are emotionally attached to their families. This can be attributed to many factors, foremost among which is the independence-centered policy American strongly believe in and that is why they raise their kids accordingly. This became crystal clear to me of the shorts interviews I made with some Americans. Worse yet, the high divorce rate, the percentage of Americans living alone and the fact that most Americans do not believe in sacrificing their happiness for the sake of their offspring or in some cases prefer not to have children at all---all these contribute to this state of affairs. What is really amazing is that they willingly have only two children. I think they are different from some other nations who long for having multiple numbers of children. However, the high cost of living and the fact that women’s work can justify and strongly further that point to some extent. Additionally, the way how those Americans parents were brought up in a familial life that gives priority to individual happiness, can lend itself to this conclusion. At another level, the role of the family emerges in times of adversity and need. They are the first and foremost people who lend you helpful hands. What greater blessing one is granted than a family that cares for them, a family that can be the rock on which one can lean when facing ordeals or hardships? Woe to this fake sense of self-reliance that can tear the family apart just for pride and bragging. So if there is something that can positively impact you or contribute to your success, simply it is the family, a word that literally bears a union label.
