Michael Kinsley

About the author: Michael Kinsley is a columnist fo r the Washington Post and the editor of Slate (www.slate.com).

A constitutional amendment banning the burning of the American flag would be a direct attack on the First Amendment. Fortunately, Congress has repeatedly failed to pass such an amendment, and support for an anti-flag-burning amendment is dwindling. Despite the claims of many congresspersons, the American flag is the least important patriotic icon, and worship of the flag is meaningless patriotism. By attempting to outlaw a form of criticism of the government, supporters of this amendment are symbolically desecrating the flag.

One of the nicest things not to have happened in recent years is a constitutional amendment against flag burning. How we have avoided this embarrassment is a mystery verging on a miracle. Raw...