by Richard Parker

About the author: Richard Parker is a professor of constitutional law at Harvard University.

Supporting the flag amendment is a way of supporting freedom of speech. Does that surprise you? If you followed only the media’s coverage of the issue, it would. For the media—like most opponents of the amendment—insist on framing the question as “protecting the flag versus protecting free speech.” This is a clever move. But it is a misleading, cynical maneuver. It is time to set things straight.

Iwant to make five points. Because our opponents have distorted the issue, I’ll start by countering their most negative arguments. Then I’ll make the case for the amendment as a much-needed enhancement of freedom of speech.

Amending a Mistake

We’re...