Friends are a tricky business. Sometimes, the most unlikely people can become the best of friends. Other times, the best of friends can quickly become the worse of people. My mom always taught me to be picky about my friends and the people I associate with. That is not to say that I should ignore those with interests or values different than mine, but rather that I should be a good influence to others without taking a negative influence in return. As a result, throughout my life, I have learned to befriend people from all cultures, ages and sexes with only a regard to what type of influence they will have on me.
Sometimes, it is difficult to tell what type of people, with what values, I am starting to acquaint. That is when friendship can become tricky -- when I end up with friends who turn out to be complete jerks, who can turn their backs on me in a second, and who have very low moral values. At this point, should I try to be a good influence on them while risking them being a bad influence on me? Should I stand to go against my own values just so I don't hurt them by ending our friendship? I wish I knew. I wish I didn't have to question my friendship.
I do not want to be a bad friend. Yet, there is only so much bad I can stand to see a person do onto others or himself. There is only so much wrong-doing I can tolerate, and that could be stronger than my willingness to remain friends.