If
If you
...prefer your drama in your life instead of on a stage
...mistake kindness for weakness
...judge others in the worst possible light
...get your exercise jumping to conclusions
...speak without considering the consequences of your words on others
...act without considering the consequences of your actions on others
...glean satisfaction from others pain
...find lying easy and even do it without cause
...find yourself lying and don’t correct yourself because you will look ‘small’
...find yourself in the wrong and don’t apologize because you will look ‘small’
...being wrong doesn’t even bother you
...take and do not give back more than you take
...find yourself in any one of these on this list
Then…
I do not call you friend
Now if you
...treat all, even those who can do you no good, with compassion and care
...need give no promise for your word is sufficient
...believe the very best of folk
...ever strive to be a better person
...speak for the voiceless and disenfranchised
...hold the rich and the poor of equal value, as are the races, the sexes and the orientations
...look each person in the eye and treat all equally, no more, no less
...understand that your humanity is to be embraced not rejected
...do all the good you can at every opportunity
...build and create, understanding that at times this needs best be done from ashes
...pursue the realism of humility
...leave ego at the door
...do your best with this list and sometimes fall short
...find yourself in any one of these on this list
Then even if we have not yet met
I call you friend