Friends.

OK, so, let's say you've popped out for a drink with your good old pal, Adolf Hitler. Adolf's a good laugh, even if he is a bit mouthy sometimes. But that's OK, it's just one of his personality quirks. He's a bit of a 'character'.

But this time, you're out and Adolf makes a couple of comments about Jews that you don't much care for. But you laugh it off.
"Here we go *tsk* Adolf's off on one again".
And the night carries on, and you all have a good laugh. Adolf does his party trick with two pint glasses and a thong.

Then a few weeks later, you and Adolf have gone out for a nice meal. Thai. His choice. You're discussing popular music, when Adolf brings up that he thinks Jews are the source of all the world's problems and that at the next election he's going to vote for the antisemitic party. He says it with a cheeky little grin on his face, because he knows you're not so partial to racial hatred, but you can tell he's deadly serious.

Some months pass and you're on a night out. You haven't seen Adolf for a while, but he appears at the same club you're at. He's bought a load of his rugby mates; a boisterous lot. You're boogieing through the night having a laugh, when a drunken Adolf puts his arm over your shoulder.
"I've had it with the Jews," he slurs "and none of the political parties are doing fuck all about it. I'm gonna start my own party".
Later that night you witness Hitler's rugby mates beating up a Jewish guy outside. Adolf doesn't get involved, but you can tell he's loving it.

"I don't think he really hates the Jews," you tell your other friends who think Adolf is a bit of a prick "that's just the way his parents are".

So a few days later you get a Facebook invite to the first meeting of Adolf's new political party.
"Look at Adolf!" you think "starting up his own political party, I never thought I'd see the day".
You'd better go along, you think, as long as nothings on TV. It'll just be for a bit of morale support for him. It'd be horrible if no-one turns up.

You arrive and you can't believe it. The place is heaving. Adolf is standing at the front, preaching loud and proud. And preaching to the converted. Everyone here hates the Jews. And Adolf's good with words too, he's turning their hatred into belief. You feel a bit intimidated and out of place, so you sneak out the back.

You and Adolf don't see each other for a good six months. You've both got things going on, and the opportunity never really comes up. But then you bump into each other in Tesco.
"How are things going?" you ask.
"Oh great mate," says Adolf "I'm the leader of the country now, and we're killing the Jews by the thousands, gassing them to death in chambers"
"Wow, glad things have turned out so good for you. Hey, we should try out that new French place that has just opened up"
"Yeah sounds good, see you soon"
"See you later Adolf".

At what point do your friends beliefs and opinions stop them from being your friend? That's the point my Adolf Hitler story is trying to make.