Ashamed

I was recently talking to someone that I didn't know very well, and they criticized some very good friends of mine. Miss Talker did not know them at all, and instead of defending my friends, I tried to make up some lame "excuse" for them, which really only reconfirmed in her mind what she had been saying. Why wasn't I bold enough to tell her that she was being rude and judgemental? Why am I so afraid of conflict with the opinions (however ill-founded) of others? I have very strong beliefs and I can air them quite strongly in front of people that agree with me. Why do I become a shrinking violet when I'm around people who disagree? I don't want to a politically correct child of relativism anymore. I want to stand boldly and respectfully for truth at all times, no matter the audience. I pray that I will learn from this experience before I betray my friends or my beliefs again.