Americans are not bound together by race, religion, culture, or even birthright citizenship. Instead, we are unified both under a representative government constrained by rule of law and around a dedication to the preservation of individual rights and freedoms. These principles find their fullest expression in communities of trust built by citizens who understand and observe the responsibilities that accompany those rights. Without this common cause and faith in one another, we descend into moral ambiguity, chaos, and uncertainty. We fear our neighbor and have no common bond. Maintaining the integrity of our unifying ideas should be the highest priority of any principled leader. Events in recent weeks demonstrate the…