[calibraxis]

Is there a race debate? Many cultures simply feature weird -isms like racism. Racism is designed to divide people using bizarre theories, in order to justify institutions of societal control, violence and inequality. (There may be debaters arguing about it, but the existence of flat-earthers doesn't make "round-earth debate" a serious one.)

Just like sexism is used to divide people using gender as leverage. That's how women were men's property and unable to vote, men dominate various professions and get away with workplace harassment, etc.

(For what it's worth, "Redneck" is regionalist and probably classist. No need for such pejoratives.)

[LyndsySimon]

I think the only "-ism" in the end is tribalism. People seek to identify with a group that sets them apart from "the rest", and allows them to think of the world in an antagonistic way.

Whether that group is based on gender, race, or some other visible characteristic is immaterial. The result is always that each group works to suppress those outside that group, consciously and unconsciously.

I'm beginning the believe that mankind is wired in such a way where this is the primary social expression of our competitive drive. While the current situation at any given time is created by social circumstances, the overall nature of our social actions as a species seems to be pretty much the same.