I am not legally bound to honor the holy spaces of others, to make room for their beliefs and practices, or to respond to their religious speech with peace, tolerance and respect. But the norm of religious freedom creates a powerful social force encouraging me to do so.
Wheatley Affiliated Scholar Eva Witesman contributed an Op-Ed to the Deseret News about the unwritten ideals and norms that guide the civic behavior of American citizens, and their critical power in upholding democracy. Law, argues Witesman, is only half of what forms our civic institutions, and social norms fill an equally crucial role—the actions we take to uphold our own liberties and the rights of the people around us, even when not compelled by law.
Witesman was also featured in a brief interview for KSL's Inside Sources for the topic.