A friend is someone who is broadly sympathetic and mutually supportive. I've had few in my life and it always turned sour (I sure can pick 'em). My last friend and I pretty much always helped each other out, but I had to get rid of them when they expressed intolerant views around one of my only decent family members. I would say that there is certainly a dearth of friendship in the U.S; no one is an island after all.