Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

General Topics => All things that have nothing to do with Turkey => Topic started by: Colwyn on December 24, 2013, 10:37:27 AM

Title: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: Colwyn on December 24, 2013, 10:37:27 AM
The war hero Alan Turing invented the machine that broke the Enigma code and hence gave North Atlantic supply convoys information on German U boat movements and enabled them to break through to Britain. He was convicted of homosexulality in 1952 and given the option of a gaol sentence or chemical castration. Two years later he committed suicide. He has now been given a full pardon by the Queen and his criminal record wiped clean. This was not so long ago. His barbaric treatment was when I was a lad.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/10536246/Alan-Turing-granted-Royal-pardon-by-the-Queen.html
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: KKOB on December 24, 2013, 12:01:59 PM
I really don't see the point in ANY postumous pardon.
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: Jacqui Harvey on December 24, 2013, 18:03:55 PM
It has been said this man shortened the war by 2 years and saved millions of lives.  How disgraceful to have treated him this way.   
I think he needs no pardon, he did nothing wrong.
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: tiggsy on December 24, 2013, 19:20:41 PM
It has been said this man shortened the war by 2 years and saved millions of lives.  How disgraceful to have treated him this way.   
I think he needs no pardon, he did nothing wrong.

This.  Jacqui (I agree)

Strange in this day and age that Elton John should be given a knighthood, yet Alun Turning should be chemically castrated. From one extreme to another in such a comparatively short time.
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: Scunner on December 24, 2013, 19:30:38 PM
I tend to agree with KKOB. It is pleasant that he is being acknowledged for his undeniable contribution to shortening the war, but pardoning him doesn't seem much good now. To him I mean.
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: KKOB on December 24, 2013, 19:49:23 PM
I tend to agree with KKOB.

**ck ! Is it Christmas already ?
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: Scunner on December 24, 2013, 19:52:40 PM
Sorry :D
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: thebillet on December 24, 2013, 20:54:52 PM
The issue that strikes me is that lots of other individuals were convicted but were not famous, when do they get their pardon?

 While it might not make a difference to one individual it surely makes a difference to their families and to others like them today to have it officially recognised that it is not a crime to be gay but should never have been a crime in the past either. If I had done nothing wrong and was convicted of a crime I would want my name cleared. There is little more valuable to us than our honour, reputation and integrity, to have these sullied by a wrongful conviction is a wrong that should be righted.
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: kaptainkrunchie on December 25, 2013, 11:20:14 AM
Well deserved pardon. He was a pain in the a*se to some Germans ;D
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: KKOB on December 25, 2013, 11:32:17 AM
He was a pain in the a*se to some Germans ;D

And no doubt some Brits.  ;)
Title: Re: Alan Turing Pardoned
Post by: usedbustickets on December 25, 2013, 12:08:40 PM
Whole thing smacks of political tokenism and opportunism of the worst kind.  Does nothing for the man, nor indeed for the thousands of others convicted and punished for the crime.  And I am not sure why this generation has to make the point on it, other than to recognise in an historical context that these laws were wrong.