The Letter of the Week feature has been on summer vacation for a few weeks, but it's back with a reach into last month for this week's winner, John Simon of Anchorage.

John Simon wrote to take issue with another letter writer, John A. Anderson of Kenai. In a July 19 letter, Anderson called into question the power and influence of music in response to Bob Dylan receiving the Medal of Freedom.

Simon responded in a July 24 letter that read, in part:

"He would have us believe that music hasn't played a role in moving the human spirit to make war, stop war, further racism or end it. Hitler used music to rally the masses. Anti-war marches have used music to stop despots and phony conflicts.

"I dare say many of us living today would not be here if our parents hadn't been moved by love songs at the magic moment.

"If music plays no part in rallying folks together, then let us stop singing our national anthem... distracts me from my iPod."

Monday we'll have a full page again for the first time in months. Keep those letters coming, and let's make them sing.

-- Frank Gerjevic