And he's right - so they would. I don't think Jade is racist; but she made some remarks that can certainly be interpreted as racist, albeit with a very sensitive filter. The whole set of circumstances and the spat that ensued had more to do with class differences, in my opinion, than racism.

I believe Captain Ginger is correct in this at least: She represents a celebration of ignorance that has become more prevalent in England in the last few years, but is in no way a new "fruit". Twenty years ago, shopping for a few basics at a corner shop, I put my basket next to the till when my turn came, and put next to it the precise change needed, as I had worked it out while picking up the things I wanted - a habit of mine, as I like practicing mental arithmetic. When the girl totted up the bill by scanning the items in and realised I had already doen the sums in my head, instead of smiling and cracking a joke, or even saying nothing, she felt OFFENDED, as if I had tried to put her down in some way - so her reaction was: "Who is a clever bastard, then?" with a sneer. It could only have happened in England. It certainly never did in all the other countries I lived.

I don't know why such a celebration of ignorance finds a foothold here. Perhaps it is a phoney "class war" reaction? I do know this though: Being working class does not mean being ignorant, or impolite, or unduly aggressive, or abusive. Not here, not anywhere. Therefore it must take more than class difference to breed the Jade Goodys of this world.

No, I don't hate her or pity her in the least. She doesn't "disgust" me. But sure as hell, neither do I admire her!