A good piece on the Livingstone business that nails the 'he was telling the truth'

[Sir C]

Was it you who once suggested you felt that referring to a Jewish person as 'a Jew' rather than Jewish sounded a bit off?

Yes, I've always felt that it sounds a bit brutal or disrespectful. I've probably just known too many Germans, to be honest.

[Burney]

Yes, I've always felt that it sounds a bit brutal or disrespectful. I've probably just known too many Germans, to be honest.

It might simply be that we grew up at a time when, if someone dropped a penny, anyone who picked it up would immediately be taunted with 'JEW!', so we think of it as a term of abuse.

[Sir C]

It might simply be that we grew up at a time when, if someone dropped a penny, anyone who picked it up would be taunted with 'JEW!', so we think of it as a term of abuse.

"Jewbag!" would have been the mot juste in my day, accompanied by a hooked finger rubbing the nose.

Simpler, better days, of course.

[Burney]

"Jewbag!" would have been the mot juste in my day, accompanied by a hooked finger rubbing the nose.

Simpler, better days, of course.

Yes. Honest-to-goodness racism back then. None of your covert rubbish.

[Sir C]

Yes. Honest-to-goodness racism back then. None of your covert rubbish.

There was no racism, of course. It was a simple objection to the behaviour of the fscist Israeli state, and a statement of unity with the oppressed Palestinian people, yes.

[Burney]

There was no racism, of course. It was a simple objection to the behaviour of the fscist Israeli state, and a statement of unity with the oppressed Palestinian people, yes.

Oh. I thought it was a reference to Jews' traditional place as usurers and the avarice and miserliness associated therewith?

I remember being quite disappointed that the first Jew I ever knowingly knew didn't have a big nose. I'd like to say this taught me always to distrust stereotypes, but I'd be lying.

Big nose or not, he was still mercilessly taunted, though, obvs. Sorry Alan.

[Sir C]

Oh. I thought it was a reference to Jews' traditional place as usurers and the avarice and miserliness associated therewith?

I remember being quite disappointed that the first Jew I ever knowingly knew didn't have a big nose. I'd like to say this taught me always to distrust stereotypes, but I'd be lying.

Big nose or not, he was still mercilessly taunted, though, obvs. Sorry Alan.

My closest friend from the age of 11 into my 20s was a jewish and he lacked anything extraordinary in the hooter department; he was, however, tighter than the proverbial duck's arse, manifestations of which tightness naturally leading me to cry, 'Jewbag!' and rub the nose in the approved fashion.

My first jewish love, a fine physical specimen, described herself as 'like all jewish girls, big títs, big nose, big appetites'.

Phwoar. What a goer she was. High maintenance, of course.

I recently stalked her on Facebook and discovered that she is now an 18 stone heifer. This made me sad.