ChatterBank3 mins ago
For Alan Turing
17 Answers
Answers
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.
03:13 Wed 08th Feb 2012
*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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
<<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.
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.
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.