No Pardon For Turing

mikejuk writes "A petition signed by over 21,000 people asked the UK Government to grant a pardon to Alan Turing. That request has now been declined. A statement in the House of Lords explained the reasoning: 'A posthumous pardon was not considered appropriate as Alan Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offence. He would have known that his offence was against the law and that he would be prosecuted. It is tragic that Alan Turing was convicted of an offence which now seems both cruel and absurd-particularly poignant given his outstanding contribution to the war effort. However, the law at the time required a prosecution and, as such, long-standing policy has been to accept that such convictions took place and, rather than trying to alter the historical context and to put right what cannot be put right, ensure instead that we never again return to those times.'"

Comments

Re:It's not a choice

[umghhh]

I knew it all along - Brits are more German than Germans. If they worship papers with big stamps (possibly eagle) then they can join German Federation as 17th Land. At least they would get decent roads and at least partially working public transportation (along other aspects of civilization).

Re:I have to agree

[Ihmhi]

Here's two interchangeable phrases when someone says "Atheism is a religion!"

Atheism is a religion like "off" is a TV Channel.

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.