In Margaret Mitchell’s book, “Gone with the Wind,” the Union Army begins to bombard Atlanta in 1864. Aunt Pittypat Hamilton, a member of Atlanta’s upper class, suddenly utters the following, “Yankees in Georgia! How did they ever get here?”

In the United States, we have millions of Aunt Pittypats, who are too concerned about the details of their individual lives to bother about distant events. Who worries about a $17.5 trillion public debt? Who really understands what ISIS is or what are its aims? What is happening on our southwestern border? What is China doing in the South China Sea? What has happened to the poverty rate in this country since President Johnson declared war on poverty in the 1960s?

If what we see on TV indicates the level of Americans’ knowledge of current events, we’re in very deep trouble. Man-on-the-street interviews with supposedly average Americans about current events are televised for entertainment, but what if they are accurate indications of our ignorance? On 11 September 2014, 12 Americans signed a petition in support of ISIS. I can’t believe those people knew that ISIS is a horrific, terrorist organization that just beheaded two Americans and then published the videos for maximum terror.

I would encourage people to ask family members and friends, “How large is our national debt?” Ask somebody, “Who is in line to succeed President Obama if both he and Vice President Biden are incapacitated?” Ask, “How has Michigan’s economy done since Governor Granholm left in 2010?” Do you approve of Governor Snyder’s job performance? Is Michigan a right-to-work state? What does that mean? What are the positions of the Republican and Democrat candidates for U.S. Senator on things that are important? Are you satisfied with Representative Fred Upton’s job performance in Washington? What are his positions and the positions of his challenger on important issues? How are Michigan’s schools relative to other states?

Locally, there are five individuals running for four positions on the school board. Four individuals are incumbents. Which four individuals would you want in charge of school policy and oversight of the district? The next constituted school board will select the next superintendent.

Learning the answers to all these questions is hard work. It’s difficult to separate facts from electioneering propaganda. To give up and vote based on emotional cues like appearance or the pleasantness of the candidate’s voice is ridiculous. If that’s a voter’s measure, I would urge that voter to stay home. If you don’t know the issues or the candidates, don’t vote.

The election is Nov. 4. Now is the time to learn about the issues and the candidates. Don’t wait. If you live in Berrien County, you can learn who the candidates are at: http://berriencounty.org/Elections. You can Google individual candidates or visit their web pages, if they have one, to learn more.

American citizenship is a huge honor. We are privileged members of the greatest society in the history of the world. We have liberated more people inside our nation and outside our nation than any other society ever has in the history of the world. We uplifted Europe and Asia to include our former enemies after WW II. We have defended freedom all over the world. We have made mistakes, but we are a generous people.

It is huge mistake — even an insult to those who have died to keep our liberty — to treat the right to vote lightly.

Michael Waldron is a retired lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army, who was born and raised in Niles. He previously served on the Niles Commu¬nity School Board of Education. He can be reached at ml.waldron@sbcglobal.net.