If President Bush spoke to the American people about the NYC disaster being an example of the bad things that can come from our country being insular, and gave more recognition to the fact that the world's problems are America's problems, I do not think it would lead to a decline in his popularity--contrary to an earlier posting. This undoubtedly will not happen, but if such words were ever to come from an American president, a gradual emphasis on metrication could follow in the wake. But it is wishful thinking. I do not ever recall an American president making a speech even mentioning that a majority of the world's population suffers from poverty, disease, environmental abuse, overcrowding and overpopulation, and that the world's richest country has a moral obligation to lend a hand to do something about it. Jimmy Carter probably felt this way, and may have said so, but I do not remember it. The Canadian article correctly points out that we have done a lot of good things, but there have been a whole lot of Ugly American things as well over the years. And the foreign aid we do give is not much in terms of our GNP. Thanks for the condolances from our overseas friends this past week. HARRY WYETH
