Final answer:
This riddle seems to require a humorous or clever twist, which isn't provided, but in terms of addition, 19 plus 4 equals 23, following universal arithmetic rules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed, 'Why is a lame elephant like adding 19 and 4?' appears to be a riddle rather than a straightforward mathematics problem.
While the subject matter involves mathematics—specifically the operation of addition—the nature of the question suggests a play on words or a puzzle meant to provoke thought or amusement rather than apply the rules of arithmetic.
However, to address the actual addition operation mentioned, let's infer that adding 19 and 4 equals 23, which is the correct sum following the universally accepted mathematical rules.
These rules of mathematics are consistent across different cultures and time periods as illustrated by the example given, where incorrect addition (12 + 19 = 32) is a mistake regardless of the person's background or profession.