by Stephanie Gellepes

Created on: January 09, 2009   Last Updated: March 02, 2010

Aretha Franklin sings it best...R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.

Notice the key words here, “find out what it means to me.”

The song was originally written and sang by Otis Redding.   The lyrics suggest he was sharing his heart and life with a woman, that he felt was not giving him the respect he wanted or needed. He says, “All I’m asking for is just a little respect, when you get home.” It sounds as if he was also asking her to take the time, and learn what respect meant to him.   

Aretha Franklin took over and sang the song, back in the late sixty's during the feminine movement; it became a big hit! It became Aretha Franklin signature song.  

Obviously the fact that it became such a huge success, must have meant it resonated with a large majority of women who also needed respect from their men.

Looking at both versions, where the song was originally written and sang by a man.  Later became a bigger hit not just because Aretha is a women, but that respect goes both ways.  Love and respect work hand in hand. Everybody needs love and a little respect it is human nature.  Respect is a healthy ingredient for all types of relationships not just romantic love.

It seems to be a very passionate topic for a lot of people.  There are many different levels of disrespect.  It is important to discover what level for which you are dealing. Some could probably call themselves “experts” on the subject of disrespect, due to the simple fact-”It takes a disrespectful nature to know a disrespectful nature”.

What is meant by this statement is this... One might tolerate being treated with disrespect, while at the same time knew by others as “Queen or King of disrespect.” Another way to look at it, like a boomerang- whenever you throw it out, it is sure to come right back. The problem with this type of  boomerang relationship, is that most people are not yet aware of their own behavior.

Imagine if you will, a large group, such as family who are naturally born in together; all treating each-other with disrespect as if playing with a ball.  (For the sake of this point, I'll call the ball the "disrespect ball".)  So they go along bouncing this disrespect ball back and forth.  Until that one day, when the ball of disrespect is bounced to someone outside the family.  That outsider does not play that game.  The outsider has either

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