The Fall of Heroes
The petition for an Alan Turing apology has been gaining steam and press coverage as of late. It certainly makes one think about how we truly treat heroes in this world. There's an old adage that people will kill their own prophets. If they don't kill them, they're more than happy to exile them, destroy them or otherwise discredit them for a few years. Turing is certainly one of the more tragic examples of this, but he certainly isn't the last nor the greatest.
Alan Turing was, in a word, amazing. One of the first pioneers of what would become computer science, the man had keen insight to the language that they would use and the mathematics behind the first programs written. His insight was almost preternatural, and he would find life-saving applications for his work at Bletchley Park.
Bletchley Park was the first ever electronic warfare center. Based northwest of London, the men who worked there were ceaselessly breaking Nazi codes, analyzing information, and passing the pertinent facts on to the Allied armed forces. With some help from the tenacious Polish Resistance, the wizards of Bletchley Park were able to provide priceless information on U-boat operations, Luftwaffe attacks, and Wermacht positions as the Allies first struggled to survive, then sought to drive straight into the heart of Germany. Turing was a key figure in this, and some have said he was THE main mind behind one of the most important advantages the Allies held during World War II.
What did he receive in return, this techie hero? After the war, he was outed as a homosexual. He lost everything. His pension, his benefits, his recognition, everything. On top of it all, he was forced to undergo chemical castration in accordance with British laws at the time. For the lives he saved, the efforts he made, the intelligence he provided, he was rendered sterile and chemically imbalanced.
We shouldn't act surprised at this, unfortunately. Turing is, after all, just another glorious person who meets an undignified end at the hands of the people they've saved. Look at Simon Bolivar, the man who single-handendly liberated most of South America from Spain. Heavily influenced by the American Revolutionary War, he hoped to create a confederation across all of South America out of the newly-liberated states. Unfortunately, petty rivalries among the nations not only drove him from power, but halted his dream of a unified South America until the recent formation of the Union of South American Nations. He died alone from tuberculosis, nearly broke and reviled among the nations he helped to free.
Recently, historians have begun to put Benedict Arnold into this category. There is no doubt that, at first, Arnold was the most ingenious commander of the insurgency and completely devoted to the cause of colonial independence. His capture of Ticonderoga and ability to turn what a rout into a strategic withdrawal should have placed him in the highest honors, alongside Washington. This man even funneled his own personal funds into his army, when the Continental Congress could no longer allocate funds. In thanks for his efforts, he was investigated by Congress, passed over for promotion, and watched as credit that was due to him alone went to opportunistic, back-stabbing politicos in the Continental Army. Benedict Arnold didn't become a traitor because he saw the cause failing or because he was offered money. Benedict Arnold switched side because the British offered him the decency that the Americans just wouldn't give him.
These aren't the only cases, though. The English sailors who defeated the Spanish Armada were left to languish onboard their ships, unpaid and suffering from scurvy and plague. The Native Americans of the American armed forces were left to the reservations after every war, dying like Ira Hayes out of desperation and alcoholism. There are countless others that have done more than anyone should have ever asked them to do, only to meet an inglorious and unbefitting end.
It makes one think twice about doing anything for anyone, doesn't it?
4 Comments:
A shared web hosting maintenance or understood hosting service or educe publican refers to a web hosting checking where diverse websites reside on anyone web server connected to the Internet. Each placement "sits" on its own partition, or section/place on the server, to keep it separate from other sites. This is on average the most close-fisted option for hosting, as diverse people share the inclusive expenditure of server maintenance.
[url=http://hostinghouse.pl]hosting[/url]
By Anonymous, At 05 August, 2011 00:47
[b][url=http://www.uggsoutletsite.co.uk/]www.uggsoutletsite.co.uk[/url][/b] The maid of honor is free to ask any person within the wedding visitor checklist towards the bridal shower party. Company can consist of the bride s mom, sisters, her circle of pals not to mention the women in groom s side. Having said that, males may well be invited when the get together calls for coed.
[b][url=http://www.seekingbestbags.co.uk/]louis vuitton outlet[/url][/b] Amongst police collectively a wide selection of complete hunt towards James , but until finally now however could not uncover a crafty James . Police lookup proceeds ,polo huge pony, they assess James,chaussure foot, maybe however in handcuffs , is likely to be hid in Arlington acquaintances at your home . The compiler Cao Lina ralph lauren British ninety -year-old girl fell in really like along with the 73-year- old male m armani france Woman killed by their dad and mom and mutilated bodies suspended loss of life Abercrombie france Gals fraud Lien daughter billi.
[b][url=http://www.uggsoutletsite.co.uk/]uggs outlet[/url][/b] To get capable we check out Attract features a considerable in addition to tested observe document. This has been the initial organization for being ready to gauge event the top effectively. It is actually hence streamed into it truly is appreciate collection together with Marking Heuer can securely specific they've consistently produced exceedingly specific wristwatches appropriate particularly how in modern moments.
[b][url=http://www.louisvuittonpursesale.com/]louis vuitton outlet[/url][/b] twelve.------, 'LVMH Shares Soar five.2%, But Analysts' Doubts Expand,' Wall Road Journal Europe, October 13, 1998, p. 108.'Fashionable Takeover,' Economist, July 16, 1988, p. sixty six.'French Funds Marketplaces: Bags of Bubbly,' Euromoney, January 1987, p. You can glue some dried fruit, blossoms, or another decorations on the bow to get a far more attractive glance. You could also place other items in the jar apart from potpourri. I witnessed 1 fifty percent crammed with white sugar using a quick white taper candle set down within the sugar.
[b][url=http://www.lovelouisvuittonbags.co.uk/]www.lovelouisvuittonbags.co.uk[/url][/b] Mr. Bundy did not try to eat a specific last food. His evening meal the evening in advance of was a burrito and Mexican rice.. Usually trendy, I went which has a shabby chic motif for my coop. The nesting packing containers are an eclectic mixture of stolen milk crates affixed into the wall by everything in arms achieve. As for your coop itself, there is a present for limited chicken wire, which eludes me.
By Anonymous, At 17 December, 2012 18:10
[url=http://www.eventective.com/eventsites/longchampsacsa/]sac longchamp moins cher[/url] If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use before using this Hot Mulberry Bayswater Natural Leather Briefcase Black for Men,Buy Mulberry Handbags at Mulberry Factory Shop with free shipping. site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use..
[url=http://hujqingra.webgarden.com/]sac longchamp[/url] Being ready for the snow and ice that comes with winter driving means more than having studded tires, it means having the little things to. The last thing you want to have happen in sub-freezing weather is to find your car disabled. You don?t need to have actual mechanical problems to have a disabled vehicle in the winter, you could simply be stuck in the snow, have thick ice covering your windshield or the rest of your car, have When you search that which bags are loved by all fashion people, you can know the great Mulberry Women's Mini Alexa Leather Satchel Red Bag. a battery die, be on a section of road or parking lot that lacks enough traction for your tires to grip, or any number of other situations..
[url=http://maruta.be/longchampbagsd/]sac longchamp[/url] Revolve about the fabric. You should believe that somebody who seem to attended the difficulty involving securing fabrics, Mulberry Shop Low Price Online Sale Mulberry Handbags, Latest Trend Mulberry Women's Bayswater Leather Satchel Brown Bag free shipping thieving this blueprint, and using the labor movement might at the least take the time (or hire someone) to ascertain that this spelling on the many tags and tag words accompanied the handbag had right typed words. Also terms shouldn't be run mutually.. If you're the kind of person that likes to show off their wealth and fashion, it's really a good idea to stay away from replicas. People can tell. Especially if they look close enough or touch them.. chanel bags day after revealing to a national television audience that he would join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, LeBron James retreated to a hotel in South Beach and then was welcomed Friday night at American Airlines Arena. after he made his long-anticipated announcement at a Boys Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn., and departed his hotel mid-morning in a BMW limo. A small gathering of fans waited outside in the early chanel watches afternoon heat hoping a thunderstorm would hold off until James returned...
By Anonymous, At 03 March, 2013 09:29
I do not trust you
Unfortunately, I can help nothing. I think, you will find the correct decision.
Bravo, what phrase..., a magnificent idea
At you incorrect data
To me it is not clear
[url=http://shenenmaoyiqwe.freeblog.hu/][b]michael kors outlet online[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.purevolume.com/listeners/cheapmichaelkors2/posts/331134/The+Compostable+bags+are+a+better+option+in+the+world][b]michael kors outlet online[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/13815474-choose-quality-slr-camera-bags][b]michael kors outlet online[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.flixya.com/blog/5145635/Lv-handbag-is-really-a-ornament-of-preference][b]michael kors outlet online[/b][/url]
[url=http://shenenmaoyitt.blog.hr/][b]michael kors outlet online[/b][/url]
By Anonymous, At 14 March, 2013 19:42
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home