Some saw the metric system as an intrusion on national sovereignty from "summary" of The Measure of All Things by Ken Alder
To many, the metric system represented a radical departure from tradition, a break with the past that threatened the very essence of their national identity. It was seen as a foreign import, an imposition from afar that sought to undermine the unique customs and practices that defined a nation. For those who viewed the metric system through this lens, its adoption was not simply a matter of practicality or convenience, but a question of pride and sovereignty. The resistance to the metric system was not just about units of measurement, but about preserving a sense of autonomy and independence in the face of external pressures. It was a symbol of resistance against encroaching globalization and homogenization, a way to assert one's distinctiveness in a rapidly changing world. To embrace the metric system was to risk losing a part of what made a nation unique, to surrender to a bland uniformity that eroded cultural differences and eroded national pride. This sense of unease was heightened by the historical context in which the metric system emerged. In the aftermath of the French Revolution, which had upended the traditional order and established new norms of governance, the metric system was seen as a tool of radical social engineering, a way to impose revolutionary ideas and values on a reluctant populace. Its association with the revolutionary regime only deepened suspicions about its true intentions and fueled fears of subversion and cultural hegemony. Moreover, the metric system was often linked to the ambitions of powerful states seeking to extend their influence and control over weaker neighbors. It was seen as a way for dominant nations to impose their will on others, to assert their superiority and dominance through the standardization of weights and measures. In this sense, the metric system was less about rationality and efficiency than about power and domination, a means of extending one's reach and influence at the expense of others. In the end, the resistance to the metric system was not just about numbers and units, but about larger questions of identity and sovereignty. It was a reflection of deep-seated anxieties and insecurities about the changing nature of the world and one's place within it. The metric system may have offered practical benefits and advantages, but for many, these were outweighed by the perceived threats to national pride and independence.
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