Well Jiminy Cricket. Later kabar...
A little anecdote, if you will...
Many moons ago when I was a freshman in college and this same debate was on the Congressional floor, (circa 1990, give or take a year), I felt the same way then as I do now. I even used it as a topic for a speech class I was taking. Around this time, I went to California with my folks to visit my sister and her Navy Officer Husband. I was warned before going to keep my position (anti-amendment) on this quiet, because, you know, he's "in the navy and all that".
I did keep my mouth shut about it, as not to start a family war for having such liberal ideas. But as I lay sleeping on the couch, I heard my name mentioned, so I decided to play "possum", to hear what was about to unfold. My mother actually told this NAVY OFFICER (not an ensign,either, way up the chain of command) my views on the subject.
Now I never got along with this person,and he was never really fond of me) so I was waiting to be handed a sleeping blanket and shown the door, but he said the following statement:
"Wow. I'm surprised. C.... is pretty intelligent."
Mother...."What? You don't think she's wrong? You're in the military. You DEFEND that flag!!"
Naval Officer: "No I don't. I took an oath to defend the Constitution. No flag involved."
That person has been in the military for over 20 years and STILL SERVING. I may not like him (for reasons having nothing to do with his veteran status), but I respect him for spending the better part of his life knowing EXACTLY what he took an oath to do.
On another point, anyone who claims to be a Christian, should understand that by calling it "flag desecration", you are putting it in a religious context. Last time I checked, we still had this thing called "separation of church and state". As a Christian myself, I worship nothing besides God and His Son, Jesus Christ. And maybe Jimmy Buffett. He tours more.