riddler 0 #1 September 11, 2009 QuoteLONDON, England (CNN) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has issued a posthumous apology for the "appalling" treatment of Alan Turing, the British code-breaker who was chemically castrated for being gay. The apology came after more than 30,000 people signed an online petition on the UK Government Web site calling for the government to recognize the "tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man's life and career." Turing was just 41 years old when he committed suicide, two years after undergoing a court-ordered chemical castration. He had been found guilty of gross indecency for having a homosexual relationship. The punishment in 1952 was either a prison sentence or chemical castration. Turing chose the latter. In a statement on the British Government Web site, Prime Minister Gordon Brown acknowledged Turing's "outstanding" contribution during World War II. "He truly was one of those individuals we can point to whose unique contribution helped to turn the tide of war," he wrote, adding, "The debt of gratitude he is owed makes it all the more horrifying, therefore, that he was treated so inhumanely." Turing is considered one of Britain's greatest mathematicians, a genius who is credited with inventing the Bombe, a code-breaking machine that deciphered messages encoded by German Enigma machines during World War II. He went on to develop the Turing machine, a theory that automatic computation cannot solve all mathematical problems, which is considered the basis of modern computing. Last month, the curious lack of public recognition for Turing's contribution to the war effort and computing in general motivated computer programmer John Graham-Cumming to campaign on his behalf. The author of the "Geek Atlas," a travel guide for technology enthusiasts, started an online petition, and soon attracted high-profile signatories including scientist Richard Dawkins, actor Stephen Fry, author Ian McEwan and philosopher A.C. Grayling. "I was surprised by both the number of people who signed and the fast response from the government," Graham-Cumming told CNN. He said the Prime Minister had called him personally to relay news of the apology. Stories about calls for a British apology were carried in newspapers in France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Portugal Poland and the Czech Republic. Supporters set up an international petition which attracted more than 10,000 signatures.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #2 September 11, 2009 I bet a there are quite a few breathing a sigh of relief that the chemical castration is no longer used for such offenses. But then again people are incarcerated every day for having done something that hurt nobody, robbed anyone of their liberties, nor impacted society as a whole. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #3 September 12, 2009 I was really appalled to learn this had happened to Turing.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 September 12, 2009 In the USA he would have been made the Director of the FBI, a Senator, or just the Dean of a school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #5 September 13, 2009 QuoteIn the USA he would have been made the Director of the FBI No he wouldn't. Quotea Senator, No he wouldn't. Quoteor just the Dean of a school. That would be up to the school, not the state.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #6 September 13, 2009 Quote Director of the FBI I'm guessing you've never had the 'lifestyles' poly? Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #7 September 13, 2009 Think about that before you reply. Have you ever heard of J Edgar Hoover? Hey, maybe that is why they call cock sucking a "Hoover"" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #8 September 13, 2009 You never heard of Barney Frank? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #9 September 13, 2009 So you think the state would have no say in a State run and funded school? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #10 September 13, 2009 I have a security clearance and what type is actually none of your business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #11 September 13, 2009 Apologising for something done by others and not you is just plains stupid..... Expressing regret ... maybe. More PC bollocks (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,147 #12 September 13, 2009 Quote Apologising for something done by others and not you is just plains stupid..... Expressing regret ... maybe. More PC bollocks Disagree. He's not apologizing for himself, he's apologizing on behalf of HM Government, of which he is the current head. HM Government was indeed to blame.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerdgirl 0 #13 September 13, 2009 Interesting story. Thanks for posting it. I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise. /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #14 September 13, 2009 Quote You never heard of Barney Frank? No. But since you bring him up, Turing was already 33 years dead when Frank came out. So kindly explain how you think he's relevant?Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #15 September 13, 2009 QuoteHave you ever heard of J Edgar Hoover? As the first director of the FBI, it's unlikely that Hoover actually took any polygraphs, although he was probably responsible for their implementation at the agency. And his sexuality was ambiguous at best, he himself never divulging his preference, although one colleague referred to Hoover being "afraid of his own sexuality". Turning did not attempt to hide his homosexuality, admitting it to police during the robbery investigation that incited his trial for indecency. As far as "hoovering", I always thought that alluded to the vacuum machine, not the man, but I don't know for a fact.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJD 0 #16 September 13, 2009 It's astonishing that this kind of thing was happening only a few decades ago in a country like Britain. Makes you wonder how backward some of our current policies will seem 50 years from now. Whether Gordon Brown should have expressed regret rather than issuing an apology is just about semantics, really. He's done the right thing by acknowledging that the law was wrong and that Turing (and by extension many others) were treated appallingly. Thanks for highlighting the story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #17 September 13, 2009 QuoteIt's astonishing that this kind of thing was happening only a few decades ago in a country like Britain. Are you talking about the condemnation of homosexuality, or the "treatment"? If you're referring to chemical castration, you should know that it is still in practice, right here in the US. QuoteAt least nine states in the United States (California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin) have experimented with chemical castration. California was the first state to use chemical castration as a punishment for sex offenders. In cases in which the victim is under 13 years of age, California judges may require first-time offenders to undergo chemical castration. After a second offense, treatment is mandatory. In Iowa and Florida, offenders may be sentenced to chemical castration in all cases involving serious sex offenses. As in California, treatment is mandatory after a second offense. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 144 June 25, 2008, allowing Louisiana judges to sentence convicted rapists to chemical castration.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #18 September 13, 2009 Quote Quote Apologising for something done by others and not you is just plains stupid..... Expressing regret ... maybe. More PC bollocks Disagree. He's not apologizing for himself, he's apologizing on behalf of HM Government, of which he is the current head. HM Government was indeed to blame. Tis one way of looking at it ... just not mine, I guess. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJD 0 #19 September 14, 2009 QuoteQuoteIt's astonishing that this kind of thing was happening only a few decades ago in a country like Britain. Are you talking about the condemnation of homosexuality, or the "treatment"? I was talking about condemnation and prosecution for homosexual activity, rather than the "treatment" itself - I've just never known much about that. I'll take a look at your linked page, thanks. Meanwhile, I'm surprised to find myself in SC. I seem to have taken a wrong turn at The Bonfire - damned moved threads . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
