How would you respond?

[Bugbear]

Tommie, I do feel for you on having lost a long term friend. It seems that he put his fear of others above his care for you. I don't know the situation, but I hope for your friend to change in a way that you two can be friends again. Sometimes people have been told and trained to hate and fear for the sake of love and care. Intent does matter in friendship and interacting with others, so I try to ask, is this out of fear or un-knowing, hate, or concern. Or if your own feelings, am I feeling this out of fear for my own safety or comfort, or am I feeling this because I have been told and trained all my life to feel this...?
Best of wishes, Tommie.