[HPforGrownups] Re: Teenagers, sex and culture

[Stephanie Becvar]

No: HPFGUIDX 8297

<<
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 
and, let's face it, how many American kids will have had the opportunity to 
experience what life over here is like ? Even if they have been to the UK, 
it's usually not possible to understand any culture unless you live in it 
for  some considerable period of time. Don't forget that most kids think 
they know it all ( Whether they do or not is entirely another matter ).

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

Michelle
>>


Ok, it is often nice to bring a unique perspective to the group.  To start, 
let me say that my father is British, lived there for his first 9 years of 
life, and moved back for a while, and I was born there, and lived there for 
a year(not that that has any influence on me) Anyways, my point is that, a 
LOT more Americans, esp. teenagers, want a European experience.  I mean, I 
got mine growing up bc my dads side is all like that, and despite living in 
Texas for most of my life, I still have an odd british accent that everyone 
teases me for, mainly bc i grew up hearing my family talk.  I also dont like 
the whole "lets's write off american kids bc they dont know what culture is" 
  I think this is a common misconception Europeans have.  Just travelling 
around the US there are different cultures, COMPLETELY different, just like 
in Europe.  I mean, I live in Texas, and i get lots of spanish.  I drive 
over to Mardi Gras or just to New Orleans for to hang out and I get French.  
Travel up North it is more British centered, with lots of colonial towns.  I 
mean, America IS a mizture of all European CUltures, and for us younger 
groupers, we are required to take at LEAST 3 years of foreign language now, 
and as a part of History classes, in my state at least, we have to do 
"culture appreciation work" so we understand life in those nations at the 
time of study.  So, my long, not necessarily a rant, is basically saying, it 
isnt really fair for either side of the alnatic to "criticise" the other 
without really thinking or knowing.   I mean, to Quote you "Even if they 
have been to the UK, it's usually not possible to understand any culture 
unless you live in it for  some considerable period of time".  The same 
applie for the US, too many people think visiting here for 3 weeks is enough 
to get a basis for a whole nation, esp one as large as ours, where there are 
AT LEAST 50 dif cultures among us.  I mean, Texas is SO different from 
Washington State, which is SO dif. from New York etc....I think too many 
people think that they get a grip from our country based upon movies <ebg>  
Your brits out there, be glad us Americans, in general, don't...remember 
"the Patriot" <ebg>

HAPPY NEW YEARS(the REAL millenium <g>)
Stephanie
who strongly suspects this topic is dead, but hey, it is hard to keep up 
with 212 emails, which is how many were in my box theis morning!
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