Respect. It was, and often still is, a contentious issue that arises over certain conflicts concerning the equality (or superiority) of one concept over another. Man vs woman, black vs white, strength vs intelligence. Belief vs unbelief. The list goes on.
It has been a well accepted notion (though a blatant misconception) that respect arises only between equals -- and a tribute of the weak to the strong. Indeed it is easy to respect something you cannot (easily) overcome -- the sun, Mt. Everest, Michael Jordan...the Pacific. Conversely, man (okay...and woman) it seems is pre-dispositioned to abuse something that he thinks is inferior to him -- slaves, pets...nature...newbies in Mafia wars.
Only when respect is borne out of personal conviction that it is truly shared between complementing unequals.
