I can't help feeling that the attack on the WTC will have a severe negative
effect on any attempt to metricate. From the news and media reports,
people are really rallying around the flag to an almost fervent religious
level. Despite the fact that people from many countries were killed in the
attack, this fact is being ignored as people concentrate on "America
first". I feel that any attempt by any citizen and/or organization at this
time and in the near future to push for further metrication would result in a
serious reaction. Metrication will/is most likely be associated with
anti-Americanism. The WTC incident will give rise to any reason to be
xenophobic and raise criticism of persons or organizations that support any
foreign ideas or concept. This incident will be an effective means for
America to assert itself in the world and push American customs and practices
further into the world, and condemn as enemies any nation or person that does
not support and worship things American. FFU is one of the American gods
that demands worship.
Over the past few days I have been inundated with all forms of
propaganda, much of it being quickly deleted. However the one that I have
received numerous copies of, was the article by Gordon Sinclair that
appears below. I interspersed some comments and sent it back to the
persons who sent it. A cousin of mine who is a journalistic photographer
told me the article is 30 years old. You can see that the propaganda looks
at Europe as a region that takes from America but never gives back.
I'm sure more facts can be added to show how untimely and out-dated the
original article really is. I also feel Europeans and others need to stand
tall too. They need to rally and make it clear to America and Americans
that they are sick and tired of the lies and false propaganda directed at
them. That they too live in democracies and can also be called "greatest
nation".
When I get something with "Pray for America" and/or "God bless
America" on it I have been replying to the effect that I hope they are
praying for and blessing the other countries affected. Not one
response back.
Subject: FW: TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
This was a great article! I do agree with all he has to
write!
Subject: TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing.
America: The Good Neighbor.
Widespread but only partial news coverage was
given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon
Sinclair, a Canadian television Commentator. What follows is the full text
of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional
Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the
Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on
all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy
were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions
of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these
countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the
United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the
Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and
swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
All of the
above was done to prevent the communists from completely taking over Western
Europe. Plus, the financing of the recovery of Western Europe through
the Marshall plan was meant more to stimulate the American economy at the end
of the war then to rebuild Europe. There was a threat at the wars end of
a continuation of the depression as factories geared up for war production
would be forced to close. The need for building materials to rebuild
Western Europe generated jobs in the US that put your fathers and grandfathers
in the employment line instead of the bread line. America would not be
what it was today if aid for Europe was not
provided.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that
hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened
by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy
pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers
in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering
Americans.
Which countries? Renegade
Middle Eastern I suppose, but nowhere in Europe.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the
erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any
other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet,
the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10?
Duh! The dollar is at an all
time high against almost all currencies. Even though the Euro has gained
some ground in recent months, the dollar is still strong. In fact, many
are complaining it is hurting US exports.
As
for planes, has anyone ever heard of Airbus? Airbus has been very
aggressive over the past few years and has more booked orders then
Boeing.
If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines
except Russia fly American planes?
See above! Almost
every carrier worldwide now buys mostly from Airbus. Go to http://www2.airbus.com/ to read more about this company.
A statement from
Airbus: Airbus wishes to express its deepest sympathy
to United and American Airlines, and to offer its sincere condolences to all
those who lost loved ones in the appalling events recently suffered by the
United States. This tragedy has aggrieved the aerospace industry as a whole
and left the entire world in a state of shock and sorrow. Our thoughts are
with all our U.S. colleagues, customers, operators and suppliers in this
difficult time.
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on
the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You
talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about
American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but
several times - and safely home again.
Why has America stopped going
to the moon? And who really put US on the moon? A GERMAN!
Dr. Werner von Braun. He ran NASA from the time he was brought to this
country and his death. When he died, NASA went down hill since.
Without von Braun and the thousands of German scientists and Engineers who
came with him, there would never have been a moon landing.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the
store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are
not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them,
unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma
and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through
age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania
Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old
caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other
people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced
to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even
during the San Francisco earthquake.
During the economic crisis of
the late 1980's, Japanese and German citizens collected money and clothes and
other things to give to needy American families as a gesture of thanks for the
help they received in the post war years. But, the arrogant American
press was "insulted", that the American people had to receive charity from
countries considered our inferiors. It made America look
bad.
The truth is Americans don't want other
people's help. They would rather complain that they help the world and
the world gives nothing back.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one
Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will
come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they
are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over
their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!!
This is one of the best editorials I have read regarding the United
States. It is nice that one man realizes it. I only wish that the rest of
the world would realize it. We are always blamed for everything, and
never even get a thank you for the things we do. I would hope that
each of you would send this to as many people as you can and emphasize
that they should send it to as many of their friends until this letter is
sent to every person on the web. I am just a single American that has
read this, TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES.
An editorial like this
belongs in the archives. None of it reflects the reality of the US in
the 1990's or the new millenium. Anyone with a third grade education
should be able to see this. If you are going to pass around this type of
propaganda, make sure it is timely and up to date!
Thank You!
