PM posthumously apologises for treatment of Alan Turing.

[Stan_Lite]

Originally Posted by BBC

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

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8249792.stm

Personally, I think he's made an error in judgement here.

I agree that the treatment of Alan Turing was horrendous and led to his suicide but I doubt he was treated any differently to any other homosexual at the time. Is Gordon Brown prepared to apologise posthumously for the treatment of the thousands of other homosexuals who have been persecuted through the years? I doubt it. So why single out one man? Yes, he was a remarkable man and his work undoubtedly saved many lives and probably won WWII for the allies but does he deserve more respect than anyone else persecuted for their sexuality or beliefs?

It isn't just homosexuals either. What about all the young girls locked up in lunatic asylums for becoming pregnant as teenagers or all the slaves the British mistreated amongst many others?

There are a great many people throughout history who have been persecuted due to ignorance, suspicion or intolerance. I don't think it is right to single out one person simply because he did his country a great service.

Personally, I think Brown has opened the floodgates for all sorts of pressure groups and individuals to petition for apologies for all manner of slights or injustices. I also think that, by apologising for just one man, he has insulted a great many people by ignoring the fact that others were treated as badly, if not worse.

Your thoughts?