Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 77



Only Noblemtl

##077

It was Kennedy who started it.

Kennedy has been accepting my opinions and creating various educational advertisements and showing them in movie theaters.

Washing your hands before eating will help you get less sick.

If you brush your teeth before going to bed, your teeth will be less damaged.

A carelessly discarded cigarette burns a mountain. Etc.

Even by 21st century standards, it’s such trivial information that you wonder if it’s even necessary to tell someone something like that.

Such enlightening advertising brought Kennedy great benefits.

“Did you say Kennedy? He’s not just a businessman.”

“That’s why. You have unique thoughts about society.”

“That’s right. Honestly, who would have thought that such an advertisement could enlighten people?”

While others were just making money from movies, Kennedy’s efforts to contribute to society were enough to change his image.

In this way, Kennedy was able to gain recognition as a person with ideas befitting the social elite, rather than simply a wealthy businessman.

And that was very important to him.

“I may not be able to become a minister at best. But our sons are different. No, I will definitely make them different.”

A country built by immigrants,

A country of freedom and equality where black people are also given the right to vote.

But just as in the 21st century, 20th century America was a country that discriminated against white people based on class.

Even among immigrants, it was important whether their ancestors were nobles or commoners.

In that 20th century America, Kennedy was white, but he was not white.

Poor Irish, even Catholic.

A descendant of those who fled Ireland for the United States during the Great Famine, Kennedy was a marginalized figure in American society.

But I always dreamed of becoming mainstream in America.

That was also the reason why he worked so hard to earn money.

“If I make money in my generation and my son goes into politics in his generation, won’t we be known as a prestigious family in our grandchildren’s generation?”

For Kennedy, meeting me and the image I created through public service announcements were a huge success.

in result,

“I think it’s time now.”

“Okay, it’s finally time to pay off your debt.”

He began to arouse public interest in the metric system at my beck and call.

It started out as a minor movie episode.

“What? The length doesn’t match? Does that make sense?”

“Look. It’s too big for her. I’m sure I gave you the correct measurements.”

I made the clothes according to the measurements I was given, but they didn’t fit at all.

The New York tailor wiped his sweat with a puzzled expression.

It was a problem to lose the precious guests from Europe, but the fabric that had been delivered in advance was…

“Do you know what kind of fabric this is? It’s something you can’t get even with money.”

His mistake was none other than confusing the units.

“Hey, meter? What is that?”

The European customer, who used the metric system, gave his measurements accordingly, but the American tailor made the clothes as if they were in yards.

Another scene appears in another movie.

“Speeding? I’m sure it was 50 kilometers per hour···.”

“A mile? What kind of unit is that?”

Like getting a speeding ticket because you only think about numbers and don’t consider units.

“What’s going on here? Aren’t there not enough sheep?”

“How could that be? It’s definitely 300 pounds…”

“Pounds? What does that mean? Weight is measured in kilograms.”

Or, you may be flustered after preparing an extremely small amount due to confusion over the weight units.

At first, it was just a scene from a movie that everyone thought was just a funny happening.

But the effect was clear.

Now the public knows what the metric system is and that it is the unit of measurement used in most countries around the world, except for our United States.

And that’s when the metric system advocates started making their move.

“Following international standards is beneficial in the long run.”

“We are the only ones clinging to outdated relics that are over 100 years old and that even the UK doesn’t use.”

“The whole world is becoming one, but we can’t be left behind.”

Starting with the academic world, arguments in favor of introducing the metric system began to pour in.

Experts in almost every field, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and even sports, have called for the need for the metric system.

“In the movie, it was just a piece of clothing, but in reality, it could be a huge business deal worth tens of millions of dollars.”

“Following international standards is beneficial in the long run. There is no reason not to follow a unified standard.”

At this point, the atmosphere became quite strange.

“Why aren’t all those who oppose the metric system politicians?”

“Oh, okay.”

“Those who agree···.”

“Scholars, engineers, athletes.”

Naturally, the mood began to shift toward the idea that opponents were opposing the measure for political reasons rather than for the national interest.

“Why are you against the metric system?”

“Are you really opposing it for the national interest? Or are you opposing it for the sake of opposing it?”

What drove the wedge into it was the anxiety of Americans whose self-esteem had been lowered by the Great Depression.

“Didn’t you watch the Olympics last year? They used the metric system there too.”

“Are we really the only ones who don’t use it?”

“really?”

If we had brought up the metric system during the boom times, perhaps,

“We’re the only ones who are different? What’s that? It’s okay. We’re good enough to be like that.”

This reaction may have been mainstream.

But it’s been four years since the panic began.

The American pride that had soared to new heights immediately after the end of World War I had long since collapsed.

Thanks to this, the story that “we’re the only ones who don’t use world standards” was enough to stimulate Americans who were already shaking with anxiety due to their low self-esteem.

in result

“It is said that it passed the House and Senate by an overwhelming margin.”

Of course, there was no way President Roosevelt could veto it.

So, in December 1933, just a few days before the new year.

The United States has entered the world of the metric system.

##

“I thought it was great before, but···.”

“This time, I really can’t help but be amazed.”

In fact, there was already no one who did not know the political power of Army Chief of Staff MacArthur.

Some even said that MacArthur wearing a military uniform was a serious waste of talent.

“But honestly, that author is even using that military uniform.”

It was like that during the Bonus Army incident, and it’s like that with this metric system.

MacArthur, without a moment’s hesitation, put the position on the line and made a gamble, even though others were cherishing it so much that they might lose it.

And it’s always been successful.

“Of course, since I’ve used it twice, it’ll be a bit difficult for a while.”

“Ha, ha. I guess that’s true.”

Roosevelt scoffed at someone’s comment that it would be difficult to risk his job for the time being while saying that he would resign.

“If that happens, then what kind of outrageous idea will they come up with then?”

“Ha, ha. That’s true.”

“Anyway, thanks to you, we can also feel relieved.”

“yes.”

Roosevelt nodded to the words of the cabinet members, including the ministers.

The introduction of the metric system had far-reaching effects beyond simply changing the system of weights and measures.

To address the Great Depression, Roosevelt attempted to implement the New Deal policies he had begun while governor of New York nationwide.

But this was met with opposition from the start.

Because of that, we had to start work under considerable political pressure. But the metric system solved all of this.

What are you talking about?

“There are a ton of things that need to change because of the metric system.”

“Yes. Just the road signs alone would have to be replaced in huge quantities.”

All the yard-pound notations on signs installed along roads across the country had to be changed.

“Should we only change road signs? What signs along rivers and streams should we replace···.”

“Signs are signs, but what’s more important is distributing various measuring tools.”

There was a mountain of work to do.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been very annoying, but not to those gathered here.

“You could say that it is not a New Deal, but something that had to be done because of the introduction of the metric system.”

After all, isn’t the New Deal policy about spending money to create jobs for people?

Instead of the New Deal that people were against, they were able to say that it was an investment that had to be made because of the introduction of the metric system.

If we just fix the roads, it would be a New Deal, but

If we replace the signs that have been converted to metric, wouldn’t that be a result of the introduction of the metric system?

If you just gather people together and educate them, it would be a New Deal, but

Education to promote and inform the public about the metric system had nothing to do with the New Deal.

Even this weight and measure was used not only for length but also for volume, weight, and other things, and its sound was,

“I think you can pretty much make up an excuse for anything using the metric system.”

If they try to fit in something that doesn’t seem right and make it work, what can they do?

In short, the New Deal gave them a full-fledged front to confront those who were foaming at the mouth in opposition.

And finally, the fact that the Democratic Party’s diehard conservatives, including Garner, had lost momentum was also good news for Roosevelt.

It was okay for the Republican Party to oppose since they were the opposition party.

But I don’t know how much of a thorn in my side was Garner, who was in the same party but kept finding fault with everything I did.

But with this incident involving the metric system, Garner and everyone else got branded with the following label:

“Egoists who think of their own position rather than the future of the country.”

“A politician who opposes for the sake of opposing.”

Politicians live off their images.

It’s okay to be conservative, because you can say that you respect and cherish tradition.

But if he is immersed in tradition and cannot see the future, who will believe in him and follow him as a leader?

Garner seemed to be able to forget about it now.

And the Dixies also lost the power to speak out. Those who spoke with them in unison have all become idiots who engage in political strife without any thought for the future.

Frankly speaking, Roosevelt was more willing to do the latter.

“But Mr. President.”

“But why?”

“Are you going to leave General MacArthur as is?”

It was Vice President Willis who asked the question.

“There’s no need to drag him down from that spot, right?”

“Yes, I know that. But it would be a waste to keep the commander in chief confined to the Army.”

Several people nodded at Willis’ words.

At that, Roosevelt sighed.

Who doesn’t know that? Roosevelt knew it best.

“If you immediately remove him from the post of commander-in-chief, you know that not only will the Army oppose him, but public opinion will also not be positive.”

“That’s true, but···.”

“If we’re going to bring him here and make him the Minister of War, then there’s no point in doing that.”

Honestly, I knew that no matter where I put that MacArthur guy, he would perform beyond my expectations.

Just look at the dust bowl that occurred in the Great Plains right now.

“By the way, how about that dust ball?”

Suddenly curious, Roosevelt asked.

“The areas where the Army intervened definitely suffered less damage.”

“It turns out that real weeds were preventing disasters···.”

“We plan to gradually introduce the Army’s methods to other regions as well···.”

The weather was beyond human control.

If only the obesity could be reduced, all problems would be solved.

However, the rain that had been pouring down in the 1920s, as the saying goes, “the plow calls forth the rain,” disappeared as if it were a lie in the 1930s.

“Although it is called a weed, it is not the case that it does not need any water at all when planted and grown.”

“And this thing blocks the dust, but doesn’t produce any food.”

“We are researching crops and farming methods that grow well even in droughts in cooperation with a nearby agricultural college, but···.”

Farming was originally not a business where results were achieved in a short period of time.

The decline in agricultural product prices due to overproduction was already a problem before the Great Depression began.

“There are quite a few people who simply move from that area to nearby cities.”

“There are many people who run away in the middle of the night because they cannot repay their bank loans.”

Farmers who couldn’t repay their loans went bankrupt, and as a result, banks that couldn’t collect their loans went bankrupt…

A vicious cycle continued in which the intertwined regional economies were falling apart.

“The area where the army camp is located is better than other areas.”

Many people sighed in relief at the news that at least management was taking care to prevent people from starving to death by using local people to prevent dust bowls.

“That’s fortunate. Then, wouldn’t it be better to expand the application of the Army’s method?”

“It’s already happening right now.”

Once again, stories about MacArthur’s foresight were on people’s lips.

Looking at it, Roosevelt became lost in thought.

‘It’s definitely a shame to keep him in the army like this. I wonder if there’s a better way…’

Even if you put him in the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, or even the Department of Labor, he would do more work than the current ministers.

Honestly, I would have preferred MacArthur to be my Vice President rather than Willis.

The Vice President is said to be a totem-like figure with no authority, but conversely, the Vice President is a person with the appropriate position and authority who can be used anywhere.

Not only that, Willis was also wearing various hats and rolling around doing various jobs.

In January 1934, when Roosevelt was thinking of ways to control his son-in-law.

The bomb left behind by his predecessor, President Hoover, exploded.

The bomb solved Roosevelt’s problem in one fell swoop.

Nonsense