Be right or keep a friend? Hmmm...
Why not both? I have a difficult time condescending to another person when I KNOW I’m right about something. It's like I’m expected to play fair when the other person won't. I have a big problem with stepping aside for someone who wouldn't dream of doing the same.
So when it comes down to it, I don't consider someone a friend who would make friendship conditional on silly things. I’m going through some stuff at work right now. The short version is parents think they're better at running an entire arts program than I am. They are neither qualified nor knowledgeable to do what I do, and they don't want to understand that I’m the teacher in the room and responsible for scheduling, music selection, recruitment, and so on. Unfortunately for them, and maybe for me as well, part of my job requires that I be decisive and stick to a plan, any plan, that gets results. The only wrong decision is not making one. But then they will come out of the woodwork to show how every decision is stupid and ineffective or that they aren't going to abide by what I decide. They fight me on things.
Of course, I get frustrated. Who wouldn't? But to appease and beg for approval won't get better results, either.
I live for those moments when more of us share a vision and understand we can't all win all the time. Inaction is worse than a wrong decision. So when it comes to who is ultimately right and whether we can stay friends, I don't want to be friends with someone who isn't going to take my side whether I’m right or not. I’d still respect my friend if he made a bad decision. I'd support him regardless. If you're extorting money I’m not going to help you cover it up. But I’m not going to cut you completely out of my life, either. I won't hate you for mistreating me. But I’m not going to chase you down for an apology, either. It shouldn't come down to losing a friendship over being right.