Essay II: Persuasion

The Rite to Be Internationalized
by Tsuyako Matoba

"The USA is the only industrialized country in the world not officially using the metric system." (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Information Services ; e-mail address: metric prg@nist.gov) How many Americans already know this surprising fact? American cloth is sold by the yard; the speed limit is shown in miles; the weather reporter warns, "Keep warm. Today's temperature will be 32 degrees." Americans have no doubt that the non-metric system is common and universal; however, it is time for them to wake up. They should abolish the non-metric system and become precisely internationalized.

First of all, the difference of the systems causes extreme inconvenience. One inch equals 2.54 cm; one pound is 454 g. The metric system users have to memorize all such figures and have to keep on calculating in various situations. What is worse, the non-metric system is not a decimal-based system. It takes more time for them to get used to this complicated system. The USA is one of the most important countries in the world in various aspects. It has accepted a great deal of immigrants. The tremendous stream of many businesspersons and students keeps on flowing into it. Most of them have used the metric system in their own countries, and to their irony, the USA compels the internationalized foreigners to suffer from inconvenience. While the USA is the most international country, it is the most old-fashioned country in a way. It should wake up to its important role and should stop annoying many visitors.

Next, the non-metric system is a nuisance not only for foreigners, but also for Americans because the metric-system is inevitable for every American student in scientific study in spite of the great might of the USA. As a result, Americans are forced to get along with the two systems whether they like it or not.

Third, the non-metric system exists as an enormous obstacle in international trading. Americans should wake up to the gravity of the situation if they hope to survive in the field of exporting. Trading with the USA requires additional inconvenience and costs which are absolutely unnecessary when a country trades with the other countries. In fact, American automobile companies have to change all the parts into metric sized ones in order to be accepted by the other countries. The difference of systems which always demands extra costs is a life-and-death problem, and that is why some domestic merchandise such as soft drinks and photographic film is sold based on the metric system.

Finally, the USA should reconsider its own attitude. Is there any arrogant thought behind its stubbornness? Although the USA is certainly a mighty country, it sometimes has to compromise in order to harmonize with the world and to become truly international.

There can be two negative effects if the USA shifts to the metric system; one is high cost, and the other is confusion. The real execution is not as easy as the ideal. However, Americans need the long-term prospect and should not be puzzled by the possibility of temporary confusion. They frequently say, "It is our own important culture." Now, they have to remember that even the UK that originated the non-metric system has already abandoned it and joined the international countries. Such a shift is possible for the USA because most of the other countries have successfully accomplished this. In a sense, it is a rite before joining the international countries.

The United States and the Metric System http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/200/202/lc1136a.html

Citizens for the Advancement of the Metric System http://b61878.student.cwru.edu/metric/metric.htm

Tsuyako Matoba graduated from Yamaguchi University with a major in English and American Literature.