In this weekend we have watched the horrifying events of Aurora, CO, and then, today, the taking down of the statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium at Penn State.

(As an aside, why is the stadium “Beaver Stadium” when the team is the Nittany Lions?)

But here is what we cannot talk about due to the powers that be on either “side” of the argument.

— Don’t talk about banning football. At Penn State is fine, especially if you root for Michigan or Ohio State. But GOD FORBID we should have any further discussion on the problems plaguing our beloved game!

— Don’t talk about guns. Guns don’t kill people. That guy showed up in full Kevlar to hunt deer or something. GOD FORBID we should offend the ghost of Charleton Heston! I mean, I for one don’t want that man’s incredible voice haunting MY dreams!

— Don’t talk about home life and the need for good, responsible parenting. That may mean someone isn’t doing a good job and their kid actually grows up to do something really bad.

— Don’t talk about violence in general. Well.. we can talk about violence in general. That’s okay. It’s kind of like bad-mouthing Congress, but my congressman is one of the good guys.

SOOOO… Let’s just not talk. Let’s not have a national conversation about… well, anything.

Not about our culture of violence and love for bloodsport. Not about the violence of our criminal behavior. If you bring it up, you MUST compare it to other countries so on a Pharisaical scale, we don’t look that bad.

We certainly can’t talk about our own sacred cows (or idols). It’s not our fault… it HAS to be something else.

Certainly I myself did not pull that trigger in Aurora. Certainly I myself did not molest kids on a football program, or knowingly allow others to do so.

Certainly I myself have not willfully maimed anyone else on a field of play.

And I am NOT my brother’s keeper.

So… let’s… not… talk.

And next week we won’t talk about how we’re killing ourselves through our eating habits.

And the week after that we won’t talk about irresponsible spending.

And the week after that…

Let’s… just… not… talk… at all.

I have nothing else to say.

Rail away.