Debates bring issues into focus Column By Frank A. Wood Well, the debates are over for another four years,and I would say there was a winner: The American people. Both candidates hurled charges and counter-charges, and in the process there was a good airing of the three issues Americans are mostly concerned with - health care, jobs and Iraq. I believe this is shaping up to be one of the most important presidential elections ever, so please, no matter who your choice is, be sure to vote. --- We can't remember when the fall color was more beautiful than it has been this year. During the last few weeks we traveled through Wisconsin and parts of northern Michigan, and the reds, browns, yellows, purples, crimsons, greens and oranges all say one thing. Wow! --- One of our American politicians recently said to most of the rest of the world "you are either with us of against us." In the fifth century B.C., when the Athenian empire was at its peak, it said the same thing to the people who lived on the island of Melos and wished to remain neutral. Athens then laid siege to Melos, destroyed the city, killed the men and sold the women and children as slaves. Incidentally, they eventually lost the Peloponnesian War. It's too bad we can't learn from history. Frank A. Wood is the former owner and publisher of this publication.