On Tuesday 09 March 2004 09:20, Harry Wyeth wrote: > Drives you nuts! (see small attachment re Iraq's weapons program from the > AP) > > http://apnews.myway.com//article/20040309/D816SR080.html > > HARRY WYETH
My obligatory flame letter to the AP: --- <quoted the story here> Question 1 -- where did this "2.2 pounds" and "at least 22 pounds" come from? Did Noman Saad Eddin al-Noaimi REALLY SAY "2.2 pounds" and " 22 pounds" because he knew he was talking to an American journalist and, by extension, the American public who couldn't possibly know anything about the METRIC SYSTEM and therefore wouldn't know what a KILOGRAM and TEN KILOGRAMS are??? I wonder if it was Norman or the Associated Press... Question 2 -- what is the AP's policy in regards to usage of the metric system? Is it that the metric system should NEVER be used when reporting to the American public because we're too stupid and backward, so therefore conversion is required? Give us some credit and maybe even help EDUCATE us rather than patronize us. I think a better policy would be to LEAVE IT ALONE (the metric units) when reporting FROM OUTSIDE the U.S. and use whatever units are observed by / reported to the A.P. when reporting from INSIDE the U.S. It is my belief that whenever a news organization makes an effort to not report in metric units, when it's so obvious the original story IS, then that organization doesn't WANT to use or doesn't LIKE the metric system and would rather stifle the conversion to the S.I. of the American people. What say you? Jason Darfus Columbus, OH
