We live in a culture where we fear each other, hate each other and even kill each other. How far do things have to go in our culture before we stop and look at what brought us to this place? I believe a key part of the answer to this question lies in family. While I know there are many good single parents in our culture, I want to bring attention to the traditional family as I write this. If we look at the definition of traditional family, we find that it is a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children. Since the beginning of time, this is how family was supposed to be. A mother and father jointly raising their offspring with their values ​​and beliefs so that these offspring then continue to improve their culture. At some point, the family unit diminished and we suffered the consequences. If we look at what family has to offer, we can see that it plays a big role in our culture and how it can change it. Family is important in today's culture because it helps reduce crime, can provide the support we need to succeed, and can help prevent suicide and emotional disorders in our children. The crime rate in America appears to be increasing as the American family disintegrates. If we look at the past and present, we can see that every year our crimes have become caustic and incessant. What is alarming is that the crimes are being committed by the younger generation. Francine Hallcom, a professor at California State University, conducted a long-term study of street gangs. She explains that "...at this crucial time, somewhere between 6th, 7th and 8th grade – between childhood and adulthood – many tire of the harsh living conditions around them, of never have money to spend on hand,… .... middle of paper ......etter. In conclusion, if we want our culture to improve, we must return to the fundamentals of family and traditional values. Works Cited Hallcom, Francine. “Gang membership can meet many of the needs of adolescents.” Companion to contemporary issues: gangs. Ed. JD Lloyd. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. July 13, 2010Moon, Susan. “Sons and mothers”. Writing on the River: An Anthology for Composition I. Second ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009. 312-316. Print.Whitehead, Barbara Dafoe. “Where have all the parents gone?” Writing on the River: An Anthology for Composition I. Second ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009. 317-323. Print.Zinsmeister, Karl. “Divorce harms children.” Current controversies: marriage and divorce. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff and Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web.