the lynx wrote:Although the royal pardon was a big deal, the fact it was:
1. posthumous, and;
2. a pardon for something that wasn't actually wrong in the first place,
really puts a joke on the British government (I'm sorry to have to say this) but yeah it is all in the history now so I guess this is the best they can come up with.
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Turing's homosexuality resulted in a criminal prosecution in 1952, when homosexual acts were still criminalised in the United Kingdom. ... On 10 September 2009, following an Internet campaign, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology on behalf of the British government for "the appalling way he was treated."
In May 2012, a private member's bill was put before the House of Lords to grant Turing a statutory pardon. In July 2013, it gained government support;however, instead of calling for the second reading of this bill, through the House of Commons, the government opted for the royal prerogative of mercy on 23 December 2013.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_turing
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2) It was illegal. Similar to how it is, and would be prosecuted here today. I think one has to consider that at the time of his trial in 1952, well 1952, that would have been:
- One of the more austere periods in UK history. And I think conservatism tends to go hand in hand with austerity.
- Going about half-way back to Victorian times, which in it's late-stage was so puritanical, they for example used to clothe the legs on pianos, in case them being 'naked' caused anyone offence.
I think it is perhaps impossible to accurately judge this now through the prism of 60 years ago, so much has society changed.
1) Plenty of wrongs eventually get righted. Better to hold your hand up and admit you got it wrong, than pretend you are somehow faultless (like some other regimes that come to mind).
If you question the value of posthumous recognition, can it be taken that you view the process of beatification ('sainthood') in a similar light? Requirement #1 of which being, the nominee is dead, often by centuries.
- Oh, and yes, this 'tokenistic action' would have been Gordon 'Weirdo' Brown pandering to the gay-lobby. [No no, stop that, all those rumours are definitely false!]