It is Alan Turing Year, I discover. Just in time, too, with mere days of it left. Turing was a mathematical genius who did vital code-breaking work during the war. He was also "gay," and committed suicide as a result of this failing on his part.
Ironic, I think, that it is also Gay Marriage Year, in no uncertain terms, albeit unofficial.
On CP&S, (q.v.) some will know, I'm involved in endless bickering about the rights and wrongs of this subject, but you'd have to go and look it up on there to get the whole rather dreary picture.
Up until 1967, homosexual acts between men were illegal in England. Turing would have been 55 in 1967. Not too old to still be using his extraordinary brain for this sorry planet's benefit. But he'd been unable to curb that side of his nature, and had to pay for his "crime" thirteen years before.
It was his "cross," and he couldn't bear it.
I don't know what makes gays the way they are.
My suspicion is that they're born that way, and can do little about it.
They can follow their inclinations, or they can try not to, if they feel they morally shouldn't.
Much like the rest of us; like me, at least.
Those that do lead "gay" lives, do so still in the face of a good deal of often malicious prejudice. It's inevitable, and most of them can laugh at it.
What's more, several of them do so publicly, amusingly, and are well paid for it.
And why not? At least the fear of jail and blackmail has been largely removed.
Anyway, if Alan Turing had been born in 1982, instead of 1912, he might just be considering getting married right now.
And I, for one, would see no logical, moral, or practical reason for trying to prevent him.
3 comments:
Nice tribute. Very sad. He was chemically castrated before taking his own life.
I'm thankful that we have made some positive progress regarding homosexuality - still a ways to go.
Did you have some trouble with a computer virus? Is all OK?
It is all ok. Just a Spam attack.
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