I think a lot of the resistance to forgiveness is a semantic problem - people think it means "excuse," or take personal responsibility for another's wrongdoing, or just put a mask on and keep it on to keep the peace. But those are all popular interpretations of "forgive," and if you suggest "walk away" as an alternative, people just say "no, no, you're wrong." It' s just not the kind of concept that goes well with the way we describe interpersonal relations - nobody prevails in forgiveness, and that's a tough concept to get across in English. And if you're not eager to throw yourself back in the path of the wrongdoer's depredations, and they're well-entrenched in your social circle, you might as well start looking for a new set of friends. (Fortunately, in a situation like that, that's one of the smartest things you can do!)

Love, Columbine