I think i see whats going on here: Tyler is your friend, outside of this paper.  You feel bad for what 'happened to him' in the past year, so anytime anyone says something about him, you feel like you have to be his defender.    Part of me gets that.  Part of me feels like he brought it on himself and his beaten down, why is this happening to me, the everyman humble scribe, persona is pathetic and provides evidence as to how he sees people: in wide swaths instead of detailed humans. 

But i dont stick up for my friends when they say something racist.  I tell them, 'dude that is racist, and heres why.  When someone says 'your friend said something racist' I reply, 'well i love them very much, and i understand they have a good heart, but thats not ok with me and i will say something to them'  See how easy that is!