[908B64B197]

> Until the 1980s or so, Turing wasn't known much outside mathematics, and was considered a minor figure in computing. Von Neumann was the big name in computer architecture, and Friedman was the big name in cryptanalysis.

Big part of that is because a lot of what he did was kept classified or not publicized too much by the British government. They seem to have done a complete 180 on this relatively recently (now that tech and SV are all over the news) and seem to want to brand anything computing related with his name.

Am-I the only one that finds is odd how the British government brags about Alan Turing after what they did to him? Having a government research center named after him seems particularly strange after what they had him endure. The state forced him to undergo chemical castration because of his homosexuality. Same state kept his achievements and contribution to the war effort a secret up until after his death, so they could persecute a war hero without the public knowing about it.

Crazy to think he was convicted in 1952. Same year Elizabeth became Queen and head of the British government. She could have simply overturned his conviction, as British law allowed her to do so. But she and the crown chose not to.

The man saved women, men, children, of all races and orientations from an horrible end. Had he not cracked the enigma's cryptography, there would most likely remain nothing today of the crown that persecuted him. Blown to dust by the Luftwaffe.

If only the British government had extended the same humanity to Turing himself.

[verbify]

> Am-I the only one that finds is odd how the British government brags about Alan Turing after what they did to him?

I also find this strange.

On the one hand I'm tempted to see this from a cynical lens of government propaganda ('we were always at war with Eastasia/Oceania').

On the other hand governments are somewhat the extension of the society they're in. The choices are to put [Turing of the £50 note](https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2019/july/50-pound-bank...) or to not put any British gay people who were persecuted by the government (and most were historically) on the £50 note. Maybe we should be glad that governments are flexible and not limited to the history it inherited.