LOL, the second panel is sort of a spoof on "Revolutionary Girl Utena" [link]
(which is like an anime shoujo movie + weirdness on a dinner plate...no I haven't watched the series)

"OMG Liek GIRL POWER!!!111"

Because unlike 90% of the fangirl population, and even if Master Pakku was being an ass, I also thought Katara was being a bit disrespectful...but eh, it's a Nick Cartoon and as someone wise once said:
It's an anime MADE for an AMerican Audience XP

for several reasons (cuz I are stubborn)
-western views inserted in an american cartoon do not necessarily dictate the standards of whether all arranged marriages in other cultures are OMGEVIL!!11tehoneone"
-a strong, grown woman fighting against a system she's been trying to fight against all her life is one thing, Katara staying there for a couple days and saying "omg all your traditions are teh suxxors" to another tribe is not always a good idea.

but still, Katara is teh cool and can look good doing it without having to resort to something shonen-fanservicey like in conventional japanese anime and teh day she kicked some ass, most of the Katara-bashers were like "OK, ok already...*gives bag of respect*"
^-^ (I'd gladly be one of the little watertribe girls going: "GO KATARA! :3")