In this clip from Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, Florida gun store owner and George Zimmerman pal Andy Hallinan explains that the Civil War was not about slavery. He is then asked what it was about. [via Lachlan]
Hallinan: The majority of people believe that it is a symbol of heritage, that it is a symbol of our history, that people think is associated with the South, and the South was fighting for slavery — that's a common misconception about what actually took place. When you study the history, that was one thing that the war was about. People don't go to war for one issue."
Interviewer: Name three other things the war was about.
Hallinan: Uh, I mean, I'm not a historian. I mean, you're putting me on the spot for something I — you know.
[a few seconds of silence]
Interviewer: So we got one thing the war was about — slavery. What are two other things that the war was about.
Hallinan: Um, um, the Confederate… the, uh, um… in general, the war was about tyranny.
Interviewer: What is tyranny?
Hallinan: Tyranny is any time a government overreaches, and they control a life too much."
Interviewer: Like slavery?
Hallinan: [silence, followed open mouthed silence]
