I would imagine the response would be the same as it always is, John!! A combination of twisting facts and downright lies!! The most oft-repeated allegation is that the EU imposes laws and regulations on us, when they know full well that the Treaty of Rome prevents any outside interference in our affairs unless we expressly permit it!!
The other most common ridiculous claim is that our country will be robbed of all its heritage and traditions!! Have any of this lot taken a drive through Southern Ireland lately?? You see the Tricolour around almost every corner and Irish identity practically screams out at you!! You probably couldn't find a country more in tune with it's identity if you tried!! Also, are the Germans any less German, the French any less French, the Spanish any less Spanish?? Do they all have to sing a newly appointed Euro-anthem or fly the EU flag?? Fortunately, I feel the vast majority of British people can largely see this for the rubbish it actually is!! One further point!! All this talk about Britain having a referendum to see if we will accept the Euro is a waste of time!! All British businesses and banks that have to do business with Europe are going to have to use them from Jan 2002, as are any holidaymakers to Europe!! The Euro will be a large part of British life whether we have a referendum or not!! What are they proposing to do if people vote against?? Get rid of all the jobs or contracts that will rely on the use of the Euro?? This whole referendum thing is a farce and I only wish Tony Blair would have the political courage to admit it!! Regards, Steve. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "kilopascal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 4:58 AM Subject: [USMA:16707] Re: I don't understand American attitude! > 2001-12-17 > > I am very curious as to the response of the UKIP and the anti-EU British > tabloids concerning the Laeken Conference and the British committment to > European nationhood. I can imagine their response. > > John > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stephen Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, 2001-12-17 18:37 > Subject: [USMA:16705] Re: I don't understand American attitude! > > > > Jim, I find this paranoia that everybody who criticizes the USA must be > > jealous of you and hate you to be rather tiresome!! > > > > It sometimes seems to me that large US cannot accept criticism in a mature > > way and react badly to almost any perceived suggestion that in some ways > you > > might be less than perfect!! > > > > Many anti-EU movements tend to react in the same way, citing any criticism > > of this country to come from unpatriotic, English- hating leftists who > > wouldn't be happy till we were under some type of communist type rule!! > > > > America is largely perceived as arrogant and insular largely because of > the > > actions of your Governments, not necessarily the American people!! > > > > The tearing up of the Kyoto agreement and the breaking of long-standing > > nuclear weapons agreements are just two things that spring to mind!! > > > > If people, rightly or wrongly, perceive America as arrogant and > > self-centred, why can't that be accepted as opinion and not as some left > > wing plot to destroy the very fabric of American life?? > > > > Regards, > > > > Steve. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jim Elwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 3:46 PM > > Subject: [USMA:16681] Re: I don't understand American attitude! > > > > > > > Marcus: > > > > > > Unfortunately I do not have the time right now to address your lengthy > > > email point by point, so please forgive this brief response. > > > > > > Some of what you say may be true (e.g., what others think of Americans), > > > but it is also totally beside the point. > > > > > > What some German or some Frenchman or some Canadian (or a whole group of > > > them) think of the USA and the metric system has very, very little to do > > > with when and how the USA actually metricates. You do not have to like > > > that, and you can call us names if you want, but that is the reality. > > > > > > And if you want to help the USA metricate, I suggest you start trying to > > > understand what motivates Americans, rather than just berating us for > not > > > thinking like you do. Because we do NOT think like you and that is NOT > > > going to change. > > > > > > Whether or not you agree with the reality (or even the philosophy), > > > Americans think of themselves as individuals. NOT as cogs in some > > > super-governmental system. And many of us get our dander up at the > thought > > > of ANYONE telling us how to run our lives, except in very restricted > > > circumstances (e.g., public safety). > > > > > > THAT IS THE REALITY OF MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY!!! As I said, you do > > not > > > have to like it, you do not have to agree with it, but if you ignore it, > > > you will be far less effective (or even counterproductive) in helping us > > > metricate. > > > > > > Wizard's and Kilopascal's posts are perfect examples of lack of > > > understanding of Americans. If those were widely distributed, do you > think > > > half of this country would wake up one morning and say, "Golly, we've > been > > > terribly arrogant, and we really should switch today to a much nicer > > > measurement system." > > > > > > Far more likely is that a huge number of Americans would read > Kilopascal's > > > posts and think, "That German SOB can take his metric ruler and shove it > > > where the sun don't shine!" > > > > > > So I ask: are you non-Americans on this forum just to have some > Americans > > > to berate, or are you here to actually help us metricate the USA? > > > > > > Jim Elwell > > > > > >
