Plenty of comfort in basic freedoms

In his letter of 16 July to the Daily Herald, a Mr. Troland mentions a Hobby Lobby ad that appeared in the Herald on July 5, and states, "Yet I wonder if they are dismissing the First Amendment to the US Constitution." Then he goes on to quote the First Amendment while adding, "In promoting the acceptance of the supremacy of the Christian religions, they both violate important principles and use their significant resources to advance the application of religion to our public life. This must be rejected."

A careful reading of the ad shows no such violation of principles. The ad merely quotes our Founding Fathers and other notables in our history of what they believed about the relationship of man to God.

Our "rights" come from the Creator, not government. Mr. Troland needs to reread the Declaration of Independence. It is quite clear on the concept. One is free to accept or reject the comments of our Forefathers.

Mr. Troland then forgets to read the second part of the First Amendment (as so many do - especially when they have an agenda) which states, "or prohibiting the free exercise (of religion) thereof ..."

Such omissions must be rejected.

Mr. Troland also needs to read The Federalist Papers, an explanation of the reasons for our Constitution.

Regarding Mr. Troland's comment ... "it underscores the need to seek comfort in the notions of the past." Other notions of the past going back to ancient times (let alone the 18th and 19th centuries) are to not lie, cheat, steal, etc., as well as many others. Does Mr. Troland not seek comfort in those notions?

Joseph Helsing

South Barrington