The Right Friend

Anjula Razdan

The Right Friend, Michael Tedder, Ironminds
To all of you liberal folks who go to bed every night secure in the knowledge that you are sufficiently open-minded, Michael Tedder of Ironminds throws down a challenge: try making friends with a Republican. In an amusing essay, Tedder describes his 10-year friendship with Shaun, a complex fellow who's into the Ramones, porn, substance abuse and....George W. Bush. The friendship is a study in contrasts, but it allows Tedder the opportunity to reflect on his own liberal-perhaps overly-sensitive-political beliefs. 'While Shaun is still pro-choice,' Tedder writes, 'he's sick of people who are too stupid to use condoms. I agree, actually. But I don't have the gall to say it out loud. Wouldn't want to hurt anybody's feelings, after all.' Although the friendship continues, Tedder claims 'being friends with Republicans is [a] true challenge.'
--Anjula Razdan
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