I tend to side with those who think civil liberties are extremely important; they are almost written in stone. They were put in the constitution to protect citizens from governments misusing their power. The government is so much more power than any one person and perhaps any one group. Moreover, they make the laws. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) are meant to make sure citizens at least have the opportunity to exercise those rights.
However there are times when the rights go a little to far. Numerous times since 1968, introduced various proposals that attempted to protect the rights of the American Flag. On those occasions either congress or the Supreme Court protected the individual by saying burning the flag comes under the First Amendment -- freedom of expression.
My own opinion is that many people have died defending the flag. I don't know that free speech is more powerful than the right to burn a sacred symbol. I think there are limits to free speech.
