But we must protect the rights of people to express their views, even if those views are opposite ours. If the government can censor its critics, then the ideal of free debate becomes an empty promise. I'm trying to protect the Constitution from the swollen tides of public outrage. If I have to illustrate my point with a graphically edited photo of the flag burning, I will. Also, flag desecration is not a physical act - it is a mental one.
People desecrate the flag daily without knowing it.
I own a pair of socks with a U.S. Flag pattern that I sweat in. No one would dream of arresting me for that. Flag-patterned clothes were quite in style during the Gulf War. Thus, it is the thought process, not the action itself which is being made illegal. Living in a country where one can be arrested for ones thoughts is a pretty scary concept.