I know I should be incensed and indignant.

My voice should join the chorus of outrage and demands for prosecution.

Try as I might, I just can't rise to the occasion.

For a couple of hours last week people around the world were captivated by the sight of a helium balloon racing across the Colorado skies.

We were led to believe that a 6-year-old boy had been accidentally sent aloft in the homemade, looks-like-a-flying-saucer contraption.

The boy was later found safe, hiding in a cardboard box in the attic of his family home.

Now authorities are saying the whole thing was a hoax; a P.T. Barnum bid for publicity linked to daddy's plans for a reality TV show.

Many of the folks obsessed with the voyeuristic "John and Kate Plus 8" saga; the same folks who will eagerly tune in for "octo-mom's" televised saga of raising a litter of children; all are clamoring for justice and restitution.

They want the Colorado mom and dad pilloried for having duped us all.

I know I should be piling on, but I just can't bring myself to do that.

I don't want to see them get a reality show because of their antics.

But at the same time, I don't want to see them punished.

Let's face it: It was a helluva good stunt.

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