abusive families use silencing tactics

to control and manipulate their members. Am now watching the original Karate Kid (the one I meant to check out in the first place) and am once again struck by the blatant abuses of power so prevalent in popular culture. How on earth, or from where, did I ever get the idea that people should be treated equally, regardless of their means, social status or other symbols of power? I don't know. Maybe I read too many egalitarian thinkers in my youth.