Teenagers, sex and culture

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 8132

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Michelle Apostolides" 
<michelleapostolides at l...> wrote:
> >> >
> Ebony, please do not take what I have to say as a slight on you and
> every other American. But you yourself have said that you don't 
know much about other cultures...

I don't recall saying this, Michelle.  I don't know a whole lot about 
*British* culture, and will not pretend that I have expertise where I 
don't.  But the above statement seems to imply that I don't know much 
about anything besides American culture (which in and of itself is a 
hodge-podge of just about every current civilization on the planet).  
Have I ever said this?

> Naama has a good point and one that has played on my mind quite a 
bit when thinking about our discussions.

(sigh)  Again, I *do* see Naama's point.  I stated that before.  
However, please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm unsure that 
either of you see mine.  

My students were not trying to bash British kids or say *they* were 
weird; they were only trying to read their experiences into the 
books.  They resented my "devil's advocate" statements, I think, 
because in their minds I was questioning their "ownership" of the 
books.  Sort of the way a jazz aficionado/ critic from Albania might 
feel if an African-American questioned their ability to interpret 
their favorite music.

I also doubt very seriously that as a rule American kids are less 
cosmopolitan or worldly wise that children in other cultures.  I 
teach a number of children who are first-generation immigrants from 
elsewhere... this is not what I've observed.

This thread is starting to feel a lot like the very uncomfortable 
ones that get started once in a while on the KS list of the "you 
can't possibly understand the books because you're not from 
Canada/Prince Edward Island" variety.  Just an observation--I've also 
seen related "you can't understand" arguments often in African-
American/Asian-American/Hispanic-American/Native American literature 
discussions and forums.  

Strangely, this cultural elitism always seems to manifest itself when 
a point is raised that someone disagrees with, then all of a sudden 
the American/white/Anglo is implied as being unqualified or not 
sophisticated enough to even make their observation.  This is 
annoying--I might disagree with what you are saying, and perhaps even 
feel as if you have no right to say it because I know more about it 
than you do, but I respect your right to make your statement (case in 
point:  the anti-HP Religious Right). 

One interesting aspect of cultural criticism is that the most 
*objective* critiques often come from persons who hail from outside 
of that culture (de Tocqueville comes to mind).

--Ebony