A long time ago I saw the film “Breaking the Code” (1996) by Herbert Wise. The blurb about the film had caught my attention, because it featured two of my favourite people: Alan Turing and Derek Jacobi. So I thought I was in for a happy film-night, but it ended in utter outrage… about the Brits!
I have had a weak spot for Alan Turing since I have been playing around in the world that is called IT. And Derek Jacobi has been sitting in my Hall Of Greatness since he played Claudius, Hitler AND Alan Turing (and still many others) with immaculate actor craftsmanship.
For the non-initiated: Alan Turing is the inventor of the computer algorithm: more or less the recipe by which any procedure executed by a computer is set up. He is also the one who formalised a test by which one could determine the “human-intelligence” level of a computer. This test, obviously, is called “The Turing Test”. If a natural person – in a conversation with a computer – can no longer determine if he is having this conversation with a real human or with a machine, then this machine passes the Turing Test and can be considered intelligent. Of course, there is no direct visual or auditive contact between the man and the machine, duhhhh!
But, maybe in a historical sense, Turing’s most important accomplishment might actually be that he broke the Enigma code during his World War II service at Bletchley Park in London. This ultimately prevented the German submarines to remain as deadly as they had been until 1943. By breaking the code that was used to encrypt the communications between the German U-Boat high command and its U-Boats at sea, Turing enabled the Allies to take measures against patrolling Wolfpacks. For the Germans, as of that time, the fun was over.
All Turing’s accomplishments, however, couldn’t protect him against the stupidity of his county’s law, which eventually drove him into committing suicide in 1954: In a conversation with a policeman, Turing accidentally mentioned his homosexual preference. The policeman pressed charges and Turing was convicted, according to a heartless law which prohibited and punished homosexuality. The film I mentioned above, depicts this fiasco very realistically and that was the reason why my – with joy anticipated – film-night, turned into a horror-story in the end.
I kept wondering: “What have I just seen? Well done Britain… NOT! One of your greatest minds killed himself because of some stupid OPINIONATED MORALITY tuned into law.” And that law was only abolished in 1967 or so. I had never known that fact and I was deeply shocked by this blatant injustice. After having seen “Breaking the Code”, I had totally had it with the Brits, I must admit. And that sentiment needed a long time to wear off again.
It gets even better. All these years, Turing was never rehabilitated by England. But finally, this omission is about to be mended. Some Englishmen of great stature have now set up a petition to restore Turing’s honour and maybe have him knighted. Go and sign it too! At last there might be some justice for Alan, although he lost his life because of his countries short-sightedness and misplaced zeal for decency. This sad truth, of course, can never be repaired again.
I am convinced that we have missed out on a lot of greatness from this genius, whose life ended prematurely. It is a bloody shame.
