For Alan Turing

[humbersloop]

IMHO, this is shameful

http://www.guardian.c...ord-sharkey-computers

[Zacs-Master]

"i see that the House of Lords rejected the
pardon Feb 6 on what are formal grounds"

Another example of the old boys network in operation. Shameful.

[smart1]

*whose career ended in tragedy after a gross indecency conviction at a time when gay sex was against the law.*

Bottom line - it was the law. I'm not saying it was a good law, but it was a well known law. Why should he be pardoned? You can't just pick & choose who gets pardoned on their usefulness to us.

[humbersloop]

Pardon petition is here:

http://submissions.ep...ov.uk/petitions/23526

[jackthehat]

I can see no benefit to this revision of history, if I'm honest.
I would welcome it if it were to happen, but think it most unlikely. And what of the other men prosecuted for falling foul of this pernicious law?

[Zacs-Master]

'Bottom line - it was the law'
I would hope that we live in enlightened times when 'we' can admit that some laws were, in fact, bigoted crimes in themselves and thereby recognise genuine genius heroes and respect their place in history. Anyone who argues a point using clearly bigoted views, needs to be careful they don't taint themselves with the same prejudice.

[Zhukov]

Alan Turing and his acheivements should be taught in History lessons,his invaluable work,and that of others,at Bletchley Park,almost certainly helped to bring WW2,to a successful and speedier conclusion!

[chrissa1]

Why is this in Q&P humbersloop? I nearly missed it.

As others have said, it was the law then. He was a great man but I can't see how he could get a pardon.

[Zacs-Master]

Exactly Zhukov

[Zacs-Master]

Jeez.

[smart1]

ZM - My point here is can the law really make an exception for individuals on the basis of their genius? Or maybe we should re-write history to suit ourselves? There are plenty of other laws throughout history that everyman and his dog would love a pardon for.

[humbersloop]

I'm not suggesting we pick and choose at all: I don't see why anyone who got collared by laws we recognise presently as pernicious shouldn't now seek pardon, whether or not they were "useful." And I do think the whole pardon/petition thing is pretty carp altogether.

However, while we tap away at our keyboards (cheers Alan), we have:
a particularly egregious example of poor treatment and;
a petition that says, stop getting it wrong even today.

[Zacs-Master]

I'm not talking about every man and his dog. When one particular individual has a profound influence on our history, I think special circumstances apply. The freedom of speech you enjoy on sites like this is directly attributable to people like AT. If we as a society cannot be adult enough to accept this, maybe we should hoist the swastiker over the HofP.

[jackthehat]

I wrote this in December when Deggers first posted about the e-petition.
<<If well-meaning folks really are offended by what he went through and are wanting to restore his character, 'rehabilitate' his image and *really* want to honour the man, then you could ensure that you do you bit to make this a more welcoming and accepting place for gay people - that would be a more fitting legacy than a posthumous pardon.>>
He should be taught about in schools with *all* aspects of his life open for discussion.

[smart1]

Look ZM - I haven't disputed his genius, or how many lives he helped to save etc. That is beside the point. There have always been laws which are pernicious and stupid. At one time we used to burn 'witches' believe it or not - probably a few geniuses among them, who knows? Just because we now know they were laws brought about by general ignorance at the time, does not mean you can re-write history.

[Zacs-Master]

I'm not talking about re writing history. I'm talking about recognising a genius who was prosecuted WITHIN LIVING MEMORY (not the dark ages!) under what you admit to being 'stupid' laws and has been almost obliterated from recent history because of it. Now that, in anyone's book, can't be right.

[smart1]

For the record - I wholeheartedly agree with JTH.

[bathtub]

The most fitting tribute to Alan Turing would be to pardon everyone, living or dead, who was convicted, punished (by imprisonment or chemical castration or otherwise) and subjected to opprobrium by this repulsive legislation. That's not to pretend that it didn't happen: it's to acknowledge that it did happen, and that it was profoundly wrong.