The emphasis in "love your fellow as yourself" refers to friends in particular because, contrary to what one may usually think it is actually more demanding to love one's brother or friend than one who is distant. It is quite easy, as an ideal, to love the world, the blacks in Africa or an Arab enemy from a distance. On a daily basis, however, it is more difficult to really love an irritating mother-in-law, constantly noisy neighbors, or the rude bank clerk. They, however, are the "fellow" whom we must love.