Jade Goody I Hear You Say. Meh!

OK first lets get something straight. I am not a heartless bastard. In fact inside this slightly frightening shell, lives a sensitive soul. I am not devoid of basic human emotions. And yet, I felt something potentially strange today.

I was watching a TV show about an orangutan sanctuary. Those amazing creatures with the crazy, red wispy hair. The premise of the show was that the rainforest in Borneo is being destroyed - along with it the orangutans habitat - so some kindly people have set up a place to shelter, raise and rehabilitate them.

The cogs in my brain started to turn - I want to do that! I want to go and help orangutans. Something productive. Something good. Until...I saw the fact that quite often these orangutans die. The sight of one not waking up from a tranquiliser dart was sad enough. How would I cope seeing one who has starved to death or been killed during the destruction of the trees? Not brilliantly I thought.

Then it really hit home. I felt sadder about these monkeys dying than I did about the death of Jade Goody. I'm sure I am not the only one.

I have never been one to accept the celebrity death stories with any real emotion. That is unless they meant something to me. Princess Di is a fine example. Plenty of people cried but I couldn't relate to it. I didn't know her and didn't feel connected to her. When Jade died, I didn't have any feelings on it whatsoever.

So...please nobody send me any more Jade Goody sympathy group requests on Facebook. She was not an icon and she did not have talent. Millions of people have died from cancer - and I don't doubt for one second they had more dignity or ability than Jade. To idolise such a person indicates a shocking perspective on your world.

Maybe my twisted viewpoint stems from seeing someone who had a chance to help herself and didn't.

After all...the orangutans can't help themselves can they.