In 1968, two black Americans stood on the Olympic podium, black gloves on raised right hands and eyes downcast as the national anthem was played. In his autobiography, the event winner said their demonstration was not a Black Power salute as commonly thought, but a human rights salute.

All three 200-meter medalists that day, including a white Australian, wore human rights badges.

Communicating ones free will can be costly, but in the long run less costly than remaining silent.

In recent months, working at the Chieftain, I wrote an article that rankled many in the law enforcement community. Three officers stormed the Chieftain to express their anger. Each demanded I correct a perceived injustice, and yet each refused publicly to say one word.

More recently an article about commercial woodcutters triggered an official response from the USFS. It read, I dont know. Originally asked of the lady closest to the answer, she referred me to her boss who would have loved to pass me along to the forests information officer, but he was unavailable.

Its becoming endemic with many working for governmental agencies that they cant speak their minds publicly. Its almost as if one needs to have a one-on-one discussion with President Obama to get definitive answers you can hope to believe.

Take myself.

Im about to publish my fourth book and had budgeted for Social Security payments to help foot the bill.

It was repeatedly explained to me over the telephone that, because I have not retired, my checks would not begin dumping into my account until August of this year. I budgeted for my novel accordingly.

That first check didnt arrive in August, but checks did arrive in September and October.

Then came the bomb.

SS sent a letter saying theyd overpaid me, that I owed them $xxx.

Not a rich man, I took one day off work and drove to La Grande to a federal SS office that neither exists in my Frontier phone book or through telephone directory assistance to ask why.

Among other things my simple mind was confused by the nonsensical sequence in the letters two bulleted items under the subhead What We Will Pay And When

You will receive $xxx for December 2012 around January 16, 2013.

After that you will receive $xxx through December 2012.

My fiancé, who went with me, and I were mildly surprised to learn that, though phone calls to the SS can be recorded for quality assurance, recording devices are not allowed in the Social Security building.

Actually, it was kind of cool to see this young man look me straight in the eye and say he couldnt be held accountable for what someone else from his office had told me over the phone or why my most recent 2012 update of earnings, lower than my original estimate, had so dramatically tailspinned my Social Security benefits.

Even then, he didnt give the final answer. He took my information, including a letter for my files sent to two U.S senators and one U.S. representative, around the corner out of sight to his boss who apparently concurred wholeheartedly with the original SS letter.

Though my social security benefits for 2012 will be $2,661 less than told me by SS officials, my fiance and I left the building in good spirits. Count it all joy, says James.

I did not raise a black-gloved hand when I left the Social Security office that morning, but I must admit neither did I salute the American flag flying above it.

And the book will get published.