Pardon for Alan Turing?

[Enkidu Warrior]

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/pardon+for+enigma+codebreaker+alan+turing/3315187

He should have died a hero, instead he died in shame. A campaign is launched to pardon the world war two code-breaker Alan Turing.

He was a scientific genius and father of the modern computer, whose world war two code-breaking helped save British lives.

But the life of Alan Turing ended in tragedy. He was prosecuted for being gay in 1952 and his treatment by the authorities over his sexuality is widely blamed for his suicide at the age of 41.

Now a campaign has been launched for a government to make a formal apology for his treatment - and it is being backed by some of the greatest names in modern science.

Alan Turing did more than almost anyone to win World War 2, and his contributions to mathematics, computer science and artificial intelligence are surely even more important. Despite this, as a homosexual, Turing was chemically castrated with estrogen by the British authorities, which caused him to start growing breasts. The US government also denied him entry due to his conviction for homosexuality. Two years after the conviction he committed suicide by poisoning himself with cyanide.

Should he be given a pardon?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Duh, of course.

I also blame Disney for his suicide, he had seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs before his poisoned apple suicide

 

[Thoughtful Thug]

Why should he care whether he get a pardon or not. It is meaningless to give a pardon to someone who is dead.

 

[Ammar]

A pardon is not enough when considering the injustice commited here by the authorities. There should also be a public apology by the government - and not only concerning Turing but also the others victims.

 

[Camikaze]

I would call for a supplementary ritualistic paddling of Gordon Brown in the House of Commons as penance for this absolutely appalling and despicable treatment of an individual. But then again, why just this guy? What about everyone else that was charged with homosexuality? Does this guy's work in World War Two somehow make him more worthy of having such a disgraceful abuse removed from his name than it does for others that suffered the same fate?

 

[Tee Kay]

I support a pardon, but perhaps effort would be better channeled into pressuring these countries to respect homosexual rights:

Spoiler :

Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Bhutan
Botswana
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Comoros
Dominica
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guinea
Guyana
Iran (Max sentence: death penalty)
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Malaysia
Mauritania (DP)
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nigeria (DP)
North Korea
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Qatar
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia (DP)
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Sri Lanka
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and Grenadines
Sudan (DP)
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Arab Emirates (DP)
Uzbekistan
Yemen (DP)
Zambia
Zimbabwe

 

[emzie]

Of course, though sentimental gestures aren't a substitute for real progress.

 

[amadeus]

I thought he was pardoned years ago...

 

[Formaldehyde]

Heh. Alan Turing didn't win WWII. The Soviets did.

But that minor point aside, he was truly a great man who was persecuted by his government for his sexual orientation. He deserves far more than an incredibly belated pardon. He deserves a national holiday and a prominent monument in the heart of London. Let him serve as a constant reminder of the vast bigotry and hatred of gays which still afflicts those in many parts of the world.

 

[luiz]

Should he be given a pardon?

No, the government should ask for a pardon for treating him like that.

 

[LightFang]

No, because homosexuals DON'T deserve pardons. They are RUINING the fabric of society.

I TOLD YOU SO!

...in all seriousness, I'm pretty sure it's patently obvious that he deserves a pardon for his horrible treatment.

 

[kulade]

Only if Oscar Wilde has gotten one too...

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Prosecuted for being gay? Goddamnit humanity...

 

[choxorn]

Is there anyone who would be against giving him a pardon? Aside from fanatical far-right wingers who hate gay people?

Everyone should know by now that prosecuting Gay people is wrong, no matter what your stupid God says.

 

[Godwynn]

Ofcourse, this is a pretty epic poll.

 

[Masada]

I support a pardon, but perhaps effort would be better channeled into pressuring these countries to respect homosexual rights:

Tasmania is missing from that list.

 

[Mise]

Well, there's nothing to pardon him for. He didn't do anything wrong. Like Luiz said, the government should be the ones asking to be pardoned.

 

[amadeus]

The Soviets did.

With about $150,000,000,000 worth of American equipment after figures are adjusted for inflation...

 

[jessiecat]

Tasmania is missing from that list.

Tasmania is a country now? Anyway, just send all those Sydney drag queens to Hobart as goodwill abassadors. Or the revenge of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. That'll teach them.

 

[Riffraff]

With about $150,000,000,000 worth of American equipment after figures are adjusted for inflation...

So that's like a tenth of a banking crisis?