Alan Turing pardon

[Tom B]

What a long way we have come in only 50 oddd years, and how terrible the way people were treated. Nice to see the no.10 petitions website getting credit too, must work after all.

From the BBC:

"Gordon Brown has said he is sorry for the "appalling" way World War II code-breaker Alan Turing was treated for being gay.

A petition on the No 10 website had called for a posthumous government apology to the computer pioneer.

In 1952 Turing was prosecuted for gross indecency after admitting a sexual relationship with a man. Two years later he killed himself. .................."

more - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8249792.stm

[EMDEE]

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

[Tom B]

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

not to the niece of this guy who I heard interviewed on radio this morning. She was very pleased.

[Sweltered]

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

Very similar to the appologies for slavery over here, it serves no purpose. I saw a quote from someone suggesting it was wrong to appologise for the treatment of Turing just because he was famous. What about all the others? Where do we stop?

[Bertie]

by EMDEE on Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:07 pm

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

Try telling that to the victims of the Japanese POW camps who are campaigning to this day for a meaningful apology for their suffering.

[EMDEE]

by EMDEE on Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:07 pm

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

Try telling that to the victims of the Japanese POW camps who are campaigning to this day for a meaningful apology for their suffering.

They are perfectly entitled to do that if they want. It's just my opinion that some things are beyond apology, particularly when the perpetrators are long dead and it is their political successors who are apologising.

[gizmo]

[quote="EMDEE
They are perfectly entitled to do that if they want. It's just my opinion that some things are beyond apology, particularly when the perpetrators are long dead and it is their political successors who are apologising.[/quote]

Totally agree with you there. Its not that long ago Tony Blair with a tear in his eye and much and wringing apologised for Britains part in the slave trade. Checking through the family tree, I cant see that any of my forebears had much of a hand in it. Total bollocks. Still it might squeeze out the odd vote.

[blueboyno1]

What did they have to apologise for .in 1952 that was the law of the land .


Has any anybody said sorry to the victims of the locherbie bomber for letting him go .

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Politicians making apologies for historical events in which they were not involved is a bit meaningless and empty.

Absolutely wholeheartedly agree with Emdee, et al. Good grief, I want an apology.. I don't know what for yet, but my ancestors have been around for millenia, so I'm sure there is something someone has to apologize for.

[Bertie]

by EMDEE

It's just my opinion that some things are beyond apology, particularly when the perpetrators are long dead and it is their political successors who are apologising.

Fair point EMDEE. However, in this instance, the perpetrators may be long dead but the victims still survive and deserve an apology from the government of that country. It may well appear meaningless and empty to us but not to the victims and that's what matters.