"Fjordman" says that Europe is becoming more oppressive. Unless you're a Muslim.

And he makes the important point that the Second Amendment should have been the first one, because it buttresses all the others.

WOW.

That is a truely depressing read.

Rand, I think the "unless you're a Muslim" part of your statement is incorrect. Europe has been giving a free hand to Muslim communities' internal oppression (e.g. Sharia law, Arabic traditionalism, etc.) So the oppression runs across the board.

Well, that's a different kind of oppression, and one that they seem culturally comfortable with (unfortunately). I was describing oppression by the EU itself.

Free speech and other freedoms. Note Ms. Indonesia is being investigated for improper respect to Sharia law. Her crime is posing in a swimsuit and representing Muslim women (because she is representing Indonesia). Its not a crime in Indonesia to wear a swimsuit, so the investigation is whether or not she improperly embarrassed and humiliated Muslim women by representing her country in such a way.

I volunteer to assist in the investigation of the disgusting infidel in question. I promise to be thorough. ;^)

Lots of evidence here. (Just doing my part to help Rand during Blog Sweeps Month.)

Actually, the 1st Amendment was originally the 3rd Amendment. The first two didn't get ratified. One of them on prohibiting Congress from raising its own pay was ratified around 1990 after the congressional pay raise and banking scandals. The last remaining non-ratified amendment in the original Bill of Rights would limit the size of a congressional district to 50,000 people. If my calculation is correct, that would give us a House of Representatives with 6,000 members.