Response to "Ramen, Beans, and Potatoes, Oh My!"
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To the editors,
During breakfast, I was reading a recent edition of the PLSE blog, titled “Ramen, Beans, and Potatoes, Oh My!” I found myself having a good laugh—what a great way to start the day—as I took in the author’s perspective on the lab’s financial situation: from instant ramen and canned beans, to survival food and potatoes (perhaps the author meant “or potatoes?” instead). Everything was lighthearted and enjoyable—until I reached the end, where a brief footnote read:
A Subway foot is 11 inches, not 12. As a Canadian, I’m baffled by inches in general. It would be easier if the US converted to the metric system.
I will not comment on the length of a Subway footlong; my opinions on shrinkflation in the fast food industry are irrelevant to this discussion. However, perhaps because I had just celebrated July 4th, I was particularly dismayed by the author’s condescending suggestion that our nation abandon U.S. customary units in favor of the metric system.
U.S. customary units are a proud part of our culture; they represent our embrace of individualism, civil liberties, and freedom. Our nation must always reject such suggestions to conform to such unnecessary international standards which inject anti-American ideals into our daily lives. The metric system is a tool of oppression, to force nations to abandon their own systems and adopt a so-called “better” system.
Better? Says who? Us Americans are perfectly content with our system of measurement. So, “better” can’t be based on personal preference. Perhaps the author’s preference for the metric system is based on its supposed ease of use, with its base-10 structure, long list of prefixes (kilo-, centi-, milli-, etc.), and oft-advertised “convenient” conversions. But, I ask you, what is so difficult about the U.S. customary system?
Take, for example, the international units of length. With a convenient table, one can easily convert between units.
| Name | Abbreviation | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| twip | (none) | – |
| point | p | 20 twips |
| pica | P | 12 point |
| inch | in | 6 picas |
| foot | ft | 12 inches |
| yard | yd | 3 feet |
| mile | mi | 1760 yards |
| league | le | 3 miles |
See? It’s not that hard. As another example, here’s the simple table1 of units of liquid volume.
| Name | Abbreviation | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| minim | min | – |
| fluid dram | fl dr | 60 minims |
| teaspoon | tsp | 4/3 fluid drams |
| tablespoon | tbsp | 3 teaspoons |
| fluid ounce | fl oz | 2 tablespoons |
| shot | jig | 3/2 fluid ounces |
| gill | gi | 8/3 shots |
| cup | c | 2 gills |
| pint | pt | 2 cups |
| quart | qt | 2 pints |
| pottle | pot | 2 quarts |
| gallon | gal | 2 pottles |
| barrel | bbl | 63/2 gallons |
| hogshead | (none) | 2 barrels |
Not only is it simple to use, but it also reflects a rich part of our nation’s history, complete with clever names and unique conversion factors.
The author suggests that it would be “easier” if the U.S. converted to the metric system. Easier? For whom? Americans? The right thing is not always the easy thing. We could have sat idly while the British imposed taxes on the colonies, but we did not. We formed a new nation based on the principle that no individual should be subject to tyrannical rule, much less an arbitrary foreign system of measurement.
Perhaps the author means easier for him, a Canadian national. Unlike Canada, the power of the U.S. government stems from the consent of the governed, not by a mandate from God (or rather, the British monarchy). We the people, have chosen the U.S. customary system over the metric system, resisting pressure to switch2, and we will continue to do so.
The author should respect our choice, rather than suggest we abandon our system for one that is not our own. Not to mention, the author’s Canadian nationality makes his suggestion to convert to the metric system more reprehensible: Canada uses a mixed metric-imperial system3 with metric for some domains and imperial for others. In this day of strife, political division, and economic hardship, the only thing worse than picking the wrong side, is not picking a side at all.
Additional Links:
- A like-minded individual’s response on the metric system.
- A (possibly) accurate re-enactment of historical perspectives on this topic.
- Another (possibly) accurate re-enactment of historical perspectives on this topic.
The opinions expressed in this letter are my own and do not represent the views of PLSE or its affiliates.