All languages are valid and all languages should be supported. Dieing
languages should be saved and encouraged (in the same way as Welsh is now
one of the fastest growing languages in the world). However, English is the
business language of the world. The compatibility within this situation is
workable and good.
Can you not see a parallel here?
From: "Philip S Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:32430] Re: USMA announcement
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 11:07:17 -0000
Well said David.
I think your analogy with ordinary language is the best example showing how
the concept of 'choice' is unworkable when it comes to measurement.
Phil Hall
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Behalf Of David King
> Sent: 10 March 2005 10:49
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:32429] Re: USMA announcement
>
>
> I too am all for an anti-fascist society. Sometimes enthusiasm for
> something can be mistaken for something less acceptable, and if you feel
> that my comments are not in line with what you want society to be then I
> feel that you have misunderstood my comments, or I am
> misunderstanding you.
>
> I would like society to be open and free, I don't want to lose freedoms,
> etc., but all my life I have not had the choice of using metric
> exclusively in life, which is my preference. I have been forced to use
> imperial so many times that I am sick of imperial and want to choose
> metric, but society won't let me use metric all the way.
>
> We need to have metric available in all areas to all, and those who
> choose not to use metric have had their day of non-metric being dominant
> in the UK and USA, now it is the turn of metric being dominant. You
> cannot have it both ways, a free society is good but when it has to
> regulate things one way or the other, for example, in the UK all road
> signs like speed limits on public roads, by law, have to be in miles per
> hour, even though I would prefer them to be in km/h like in most
> countries of the world, but the law forbids such a thing at present.
> That is regulation and control and a lack of freedom of choice. To have
> everything using just one system is what I would like to see, not
> because I oppose freedom or choice, because I believe in freedoms for
> all and where appropriate people should have choice, but choice must be
> limited within certain parameters otherwise we have chaos. For example,
> a hypothetical situation: if I choose to kill you, would you allow that,
> as you are pro-choice? Or would you want to say that is not acceptable,
> as some choices are not valid? Surely you would choose the latter, that
> there must be restrictions on society for the good of all.
>
> As I see it, metrication is for the good of all and although it means
> non-metric users have less choice, it does not mean we have to have a
> fascist or totalitarian society. Most countries in the world went metric
> without altering freedoms of choice for people.
>
> Another example, suppose I choose to speak in a language other than
> English? I might demand that right, and that all forms and documents
> that I have to use officially be in my chosen language, other than
> English, but they cannot be because it is impractical. My only choice
> then would be to do everything in English.
>
> Basically, you have to remember that choice is limited by restrictions,
> and that metrication is not against choice, it is about harmony. Harmony
> means we all use the same measurement system so that we all understand
> each other, to promote the betterment of society.
>
> I hope you reconsider your position on metrication and realise that it
> does not mean trying to control people nor telling them what to think,
> but is rather a means to harmony within the world as a whole. There are
> many political issues in the world as it is which divide people,
> metrication should not be one of them.
>
> David King
>
>
>
> ewc wrote:
>
> >Hi Jim (Elwell)
> >
> >Thanks for the voice of sanity - but I fear you are in a minority.
> >
> >When I joined this group I was (mildly) pro-metric. But recent
> >comments by many - including Pat, David and Phil - have been the last
> >straw for me.
> >
> >I will hence forward actively oppose metrification in a wide variety
> >of contexts because I feel it is my duty in connection with the
> >preservation of basic liberal values, and an open, anti-fascist,
> >society.
> >
> >That fool Orwell is dead so this fool will carry his protest on.
> >
> >most sincerely
> >
> >Robert Tye
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
