In response to Eugene Mechtly's comments on metric units broadcast in the
American's Cup, one thing that we haven't talked much about in the USMA is
the impact that international communications are having on the U.S. Not
only sports matches, but several cable and wire service news feeds are in
metric (from Britain, Germany, Canada, Mexico). At least these are
getting Americans familiarized with the terminology and making them aware
that their Fahrenheits and miles are not used around the world.
I am told by those who use Facebook that many of the contexts are
international and nudge Americans to use metric units. Americans have at
least a vague idea of metric, but non-Americans haven't a clue about U.S.
Customary units, and the Americans are more willing to metricate than the
non-Americans are willing to "customize."
--Martin Morrison, "Metric Training & Education" Columnist for METRIC
TODAY
