For years, Procter & Gamble has been an industry leader in the promotion
of U.S. metrication. I even had the pleasure of meeting your company
representative, Mr. Chris Guay, at a U.S. Commerce Department forum on
metric-only labeling in Washington some years ago. So, I do not
understand your current Old Spice TV commercial in which a basketball
player discourages public acceptance of the metric system by stating,
Now, I dont understand the metric system or any other foreign language.
Im sure you know that Congress has declared that the metric system is
NOT foreign! In 1988, it declared metric to be the preferred system of
measurement for trade and commerce in the U.S. Instead of discouraging
people from understanding metric, your company should be going out of
its way to follow the federal endorsement of the metric system in
commerce. I strongly urge you to delete this particular ad. I see on
your Web site that you have a variety of these ads to choose from, so I
do not think it will be missed. I am shocked that, of all U.S.
manufacturers, P&G would be the one to openly pander to anti-metric
sentiment in America. Given your record on metric, you should be working
AGAINST that sentiment. Why not plan a pro-metric TV ad soon? You could
sell a whole 500 mL of Old Spice After Shave, just like a half liter of
water! Please, educate the public. Raise them to YOUR level.
Sincerely,
Paul Trusten,R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 US
+1(432)528-7724
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
