Marcus: I am not responding to most of your emails due to time constraints. I have read them all, and, as always, you respond in a civil manner suitable for continuing a debate. However, between time constraints and the fact that everyone is pretty tired of most of the debate, I'll give you last word on most of it. Besides, by now we all pretty much know where each of us stands! The one I wish to comment on is this: > >Marcus, I refuse to accept "shame" because the USA hasn't > metricated, which > >is the post I was responding to. That is a long ways from wanting to tell > >other countries how to run themselves, or considering myself personally > >superior in any way. > >... > On the other hand, it's hard to shun from the concept of shame > inasmuch as the US continues to claim to be the most > technologically advanced nation on earth - while still clinging > to Fred Flintstone units - wouldn't you say? (Please remember > that as far as we (metricationists) are concerned, the ifp is an > obsolete - and absolute! - trash!) You have far more knowledge of various countries than I do. Surely you will agree that there is no country that is perfect. I certainly would never claim that the USA is perfect. However, if you start with the premise that the most important factor in judging a country is its level of individual freedom (which I do, and others may not), then I am proud to be an American, because I believe it scores the highest on that particular factor. I am *not* implying anyone else sees it the same way. Sure, I wish America would metricate, and am working in my way to make it happen. Do I feel any kind of shame because we haven't yet, i.e., that America has its flaws? No, I simply feel challenged to do what I can to improve the country. Jim Elwell
