Apology Sought on Behalf of Gay Scientist/Hero

[amedia]

Very interesting article here on CNN about a petition seeking an apology from the British government for its shameful treatment of Alan Turing, a computer scientist who helped crack the Enigma code. He should have been recognized as a war hero; instead, he was prosecuted for having a homosexual relationship and subjected to chemical castration, which led to his suicide at the age of 41.

I rarely sign online petitions, but I'm going to sign this one (be careful which link you follow from the article; if you're outside Great Britain you need to sign the international version).

Comments

[koslorollo.livejournal.com]

This is shocking! How sad! I know the civilised world wouldn't do anything like this now, ahem, CIVILISED world, but that it was done at all… It's horrifying.

[koslorollo.livejournal.com]

lol, I signed the international version, and of course they wanted money, so I hope the signature was recorded anyway, as it said it was. =\

My comment: Because recognising genius is better than recognising sex.

hahaha. *dork*

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I like your comment! And I'm sure it was registered. They were at 1800+ when I signed; they were at 8000+ when I went to check after you signed (naive me, I thought I'd find your signature, but there were gazillions!) and up over 10,000 now. Thanks!!!!!

[cicerothewriter.livejournal.com]

I just signed the international petition. I knew about Turing, but I didn't know that he had been chemically castrated. How shocking!

Derek Jacobi was in a movie about him, I think. "Breaking the Code". I downloaded it, but never watched it. I think that I'll have to now.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

TODS (who told me about the petition) said he'd heard there was a movie, and one of our colleagues who does a lot of work in AI said it was very good. We'll have to watch that, but it sounds heartbreaking, doesn't it?

[cicerothewriter.livejournal.com]

We'll have to watch that, but it sounds heartbreaking, doesn't it?

Yeah, it does. That's one of the reasons why I haven't watched it yet. I have to be in a certain mood, you know?

If you can't find a copy (it may only be on DVD), I can try to upload it for you.

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

Why, why, why, does mankind absolutely insist upon shooting itself in the foot?

Given the choice, I would be a cat in an instant.
L

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine what amazing things Turing would have discovered/invented if he had lived past the age of 41 ... quite apart, of course, from the human suffering! Really a loss to us all.

Given the choice, I would be a cat in an instant.

There are days when I agree.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

Husband and I ran into Michael Gough in the Georgetown Mall when he and Jacobi were doing the play, "Enigma", in Washington. His wife literally put him into our care so she could shop. Husband had been a fan of all his horror films made in his youth and I had mentioned the role of "Lord Delamere" from "Out of Africa" both of which touched him and his reaction was so sweet. I don't think he was used to being recognized ;)

He spoke of the play and how even that had been difficult to get up and running due to the subject matter.

Husband made a playbill for him and sent it to the theatre. It had him in the lead and Jacobi in the smaller role. Gough wrote to husband, "That damn Derek tries to steal the thing every time I am out of my dressing room! He is ripe with jealousy that someone handmade it for me!"

I shall sign the petition.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I have a soft spot in my heart for Michael Gough because he played the Celestial Toymaker in a *very* early episode of Doctor Who.

*Loved* your story, especially the bit about the handbill! My congrats & admiration to Husband. :-)

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

All I can think is that I'm so very glad that homosexuality isn't illegal now. It took Britain long enough to repeal that law. :o(

Thanks for the links.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon.