It doesn’t matter if you don’t care. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like politics. It doesn’t matter if you would rather stay ignorant to the news of the world. The truth is that you should stay informed, because your future depends on it.

The Supreme Court held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. The 2008 proposition mandated that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The Supreme Court did not make any decisions just yet, but the fact that this is even being discussed shows the direction that the country is headed.

It is important to stay up to date. It is important to read the news. It is important to stay informed. You may not have any emotional investment in this particular decision, but you should still make an informed decision for yourself. You must support your peers who do have an emotional investment. For all you know, the next controversial debate could have huge ramifications on your life. Wouldn’t you want your peers’ support?

A few members of The Oswegonian staff had the opportunity to travel to Paris over spring break. It was a part of a comparative media course that specialized in French media. Through this course, we were able to become informed of more than just national news; we now had a gauge of international news as well.

When you learn about what is going on in the world, both in your own country and abroad, you become a part of the solution, not the problem in society. By not staying informed, you add to the overall stereotype of American ignorance.

Many citizens of other nations would love to have the amount of freedoms that Americans have. We get to pick who becomes president, we get to vote on laws and we have the opportunity to be as vocal as we want when it comes to politics. If we want something to be changed, then we can do our best to have it changed.

One of the foundations of democracy itself is a dependence on a well-informed electorate. In order to have a government by the people and for the people, the people need to understand the issues that shape it.

In this age, it is especially easy to stay informed on world issues. Between smart-phones, laptops and tablets, news can be absorbed absolutely anywhere. Don’t have time read through a 2,000 word exposé in the New York Times? Follow the newspaper on Twitter. Did you miss the most recent investigative story on 60 Minutes? Simply go to any network news websites and click on one of their on demand videos. With all of these options, there is truly no excuse not to keep up on world and U.S. issues.

So take advantage of your freedoms. Stay informed. The future of your America depends on it.