8/30/2009

Alan Turing - A real British hero that we should all honour


One of the most annoying things about being British is the fact that our government, indeed virtually every government, never lives up to the high reputation that the people themselves deserve. The persecution of people who serve this country, the continued slap in the face our servicemen receive, the lack of gratitude to people who put their lives on the line is never ending. When you read stories of VC holders having to sell their medals to make ends meet, war heroes having the payments challenged by the government or the story of Alan Turing, you have to wonder what they do it for.

I found THIS article from the Independent which highlights how Alan Turing, the man who broke the enigma code, a man who should be lauded as the person with the greatest single contribution to saving Britain in WW2 was persecuted by the UK government because he was gay, and eventually killed himself as a result. The Pink News reports also on the petition that has been signed by nearly 5000 people already.

It is a shameful blot on the history of this country that a man who did so much to preserve the freedoms we love was treated so badly. So I would support any move to pardon him and feel a more permanent reminder of his contribution to British freedoms should be recognised.

3 comments:

Paul Evans said...

Not one for petitions, but this is one I'm happy to support.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't he actually English? Not being precious merely curious?

It's the British /English confusions again because we wouldn't hesitate to mention it if he had been scottish- so just wondering.

Anonymous said...

I don´t care if he was martian, he saved this country. Judge a man by his actions.

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