Van Badham, Genocide and Journalistic Bias

Van Badham (Columnist and playwright) recently Tweeted a show of solidarity with Sam Kerr (Matilda/Chelsea FC soccer player).

The Australian people’s respect for Sam was boosted, when an allegation surfaced that she had called a pommy police officer “a stupid white bastard“. Obviously, not every one was happy with her choice of words, Sam has admitted her language was inappropriate.¹

Aamer Rahman (Fear of a Brown Planet) – Reverse Racism – YouTube

Aamer Rahman (Standup comic/screenwriter), responded to Van’s Tweet with this definitive critique…

Aamer’s response to Van Badham is a stand alone piece. A string of truths, every journalist (not just Van) should heed.

Naturally, Van Badham apologists defended her political bias, albeit obliquely. Their arguments lacking logic, relevance and that “civility” they claim is so important in discourse. Apart from Noel Debien and the self-proclaimed Zionist Nick Dyrenfurth, (who I decided to omit) none were game to directly contest Aamer’s response.

Van Badham’s RW Labor support group retaliate

Noel Debien (Faux “journalistic” concerns)

Noel is a “religion expert” at the ABC, who apparently believes in the ‘god of journalistic impartiality’. Without mocking his “faith” – I’d just point out that most rational people eventually stop believing it exists.

Noel neatly combined praise with condescension, explaining how “journalism” worked to Aamer.

Unfortunately, Van’s role as a columnist, writing opinion pieces – made a nonsense of his argument. Opinion pieces are inherently biased. Then there’s Noel’s assertion that Van can’t, “…take a crusading position on social media…” due to considerations of “impartiality”. This was easily disproved.

Van also reposts “succumbed” Ukrainian soldiers, which is fine, if you also repost what’s happening in other war zones
It makes the argument, that Van can’t mention Gaza on social media for fear of jeopardising some fictitious journalistic objectivity, an absurdity

Van Badham and “impartiality” are as distant from each other, as Noel’s comments are from fact.

“Van Badham and Ben Davison are a married couple who don’t try and hide their bias: they are proudly pro-union and pro-Labor.”

“Ms Badham and Mr Davison have connections in the Labor Party and with unions throughout Australia, so they can give insightful, complete summaries of issues.” – Two commentators give the lowdown on NSW and Australian politics – RED TAPE – The magazine of the Public Service Association of NSW and the Community and Public Sector Union (NSW Branch).

The USA’s proxy war in Ukraine and other pro-American propaganda (backed by the accused war-criminals in her Labor Party) get an airing – while Gaza is omitted from her demonstrably biased pieces.

Gushing praise of Zelensky and condemnation of the USA’s adversaries

Assortment of RW Labor types claiming working class status on 6 figure incomes

(Politics of envy, upper class scorn and deflection)

There is something magical about people on 6 figure incomes berating the unemployed. As though logic – indeed reality itself – had undergone a ‘class transfiguration’ – through some fantastical sleight of mind.

This “defence” of Van Badham consists in ignoring the accusations of her bias, in favour of explaining that Van and her praetorian guard, are being attacked for being filthy rich and influential (working class) women.

Nareen and Co. demonstrate their solidarity with the working class by insulting any of
them, that have the temerity to forget, they are as inferior and as worthless as their opinions

It seems that only “grandiose, pretentious rich kids”, who lack the intellect, talent and drive to emulate these icons of working class aspiration, begrudge their rise in life. These “proud” winners, who share the humble beginnings, and political views of a Prime Minister, currently accused of complicity in war crimes.

Somehow, this oft-repeated argument, explains why Badham is not guilty of political and journalistic bias.

Nareen shares her hard-won insights, with Van using the @vanbadham link

Still not sure, how an argument about Van Badham’s journalistic bias
in refusing to acknowledge the plight of the Palestinian people, turned into some
millionaires accenting their working class origins, by attacking the Poors

Nareen’s position on Per Capita’s board – an organisation that claims to fight for the unemployed – gives her “get a job” taunt and description of Van Badham’s detractors as “losers” an added poignancy.

Maybe “success”, in a racist society, driving us towards extinction and currently complicit in a genocide, isn’t something to brag about?

Dee chimes in, to put an uppity working class person with aspirations (albeit satirical) in his place. She points out, that only those of a select class can possibly hope to have a play produced by a “professional theatre company”.

Maybe she’s referring to the need to appease the clearly powerful Jewish influence at play in the Sydney theatre world?

Before I get ‘antisemitised’ and called a Nazi again, I’d point my gentle readers to the article below by the Australian Financial Review.

Sydney property executive Daniel Grynberg said a “real change in strategic
direction and governance” at STC would be required to coax Jewish patrons back.
These boycotting Jewish backers will miss RBG: Of Many, One. the story of
Ruth Bader Ginsburg,the first Jewish woman to serve on the US Supreme Court.

Dee finishes with a flourish, calling Mr Gaiswinkler (‘a self-hating Jew?’) a “failed writer” and disparaging the Green Left Weekly, which doesn’t help the claims that Van Badham is a Lefty.

To her credit, Dee deleted these Tweets. Perhaps someone pointed out how cruel and petty her remarks were?

Gaza finally gets some attention

Van Badham did eventually delete her Tweet but left it to her partner Ben Davison to comment on Gaza. A reply most probably coauthored by Badham. It was not well-received.

Ben’s (and Van Badham’s – let’s be real) takes are very forgiving of the ongoing genocide, domicide and starvation of the Palestinian people by Israel since October 2023
To be fair: Not much chance of getting another play produced in Sydney, if one gets all sentimental about the 30,000 plus Palestinian deaths ³

From “brilliant” to blocked

Badham’s penchant for blocking any criticism and divergence from her worldview is legendary on Twitter.

There was some minuscule hope (nah, not really) that Van would profit from Aamer’s critique and emerge a newer, better, more humbler person. After all, an op-ed scribe who can’t learn from constructive criticism and oppositional viewpoints, is essentially a “failed writer”.

That hope was dashed by Ben’s ‘accidental genocide’ post and Van Badham blocking Aamer.

Apart from blocking people, Van Badham has also gained deserved fame for her narcissism.

The ultimate – (if least desirable) – self-protective mechanism in these situations.

– Fini –

Notes

¹ Of course (as the links demonstrate) I’m taking the piss – this “racist” beat-up against Sam Kerr, is deserving of nothing more. My take?

²Many of the people criticising Van Badham’s lack of journalistic integrity are, like myself, working class. Or part of that unemployed underclass, (we sometimes temporarily escape) I refer to as the Untermenschen. Why? The negative stereotypes directed at unemployed people who are disabled, sick (even dying), unsuited to cope in toxic work environs or unable to find work – is appalling. Whereas, millionaire think-tankers, consultants, bankers, judges, private school headmasters, CEOs, MSM journalists and other non-productive parasites are respected – nay revered – in this society.

For the record, I went to State schools, apart from a 2 month stint in a Catholic school, which strangely didn’t take. Asbestos demountables, an integral part of my childhood.

³“At least 31,184 Palestinians have been killed and 72,889 have been wounded in Gaza since October 7, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says.” (12th March, 2024) – Hamas-run health ministry says Gaza death toll passed 31,000