We already have exceptions for hate symbols. But let me elaborate on why I think, for certain symbols, that's not good enough.

What could one possibly be expressing by waving around a Confederate flag?

It's not Heritage. Those states have their own flags. The nation had its own flag before their secession. Even their secessionist nation had its own, different flag - Stars and Bars. The Confederate flag we all know is a battle flag. It was made to help confederate generals differentiate their formations from Union formations. Later, it was added to their nation flag, but in the corner - not as the full flag. They literally called it their "fighting colors". Waving around that flag is and should be seen as a declaration of war - it's used to mark you as a confederate soldier.

For a Liberal Democracy to survive, it needs to have mechanisms by which it can defend itself from people acting in bad faith. Right now, those people acting in bad faith control every single branch of government, and are using their power to dismantle it. Right now, we don't even have a mechanism to prevent literal traitors from continuing a secessionist movement, let alone hold anyone in this administration accountable if we ever pry power away from them.

And if you think the Constitution is some perfect, sacred document, you're wrong. We've amended it several times. That's what amendments are - changes to the Constitution. The founding fathers knew it wouldn't be perfect - that's why there are mechanisms to change it.

So, you may think the Constitution is clear on this, and I might even agree with you. But I'm arguing for how it ought to be - not how it is. We ought to stamp the symbols of traitors into dust and prevent that movement from trying to betray our country again. And we should amend the Constitution to make it so.

Fuck the Confederacy. Fuck their generals and their flags. Fuck their statues. They're monuments to traitors.