But Mr. Putin America is exceptional

Russian president Vladimir Putin created a stir when he dared question American exceptionalism in a New York Times editorial.

And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

The editorial is riddled with hypocrisy. He points out America's checkered history of military interventions while neglecting to mention those of his own country. Putin also forgets to mention that his country armed Syria with chemical warfare agents and delivery systems. Nothing like a lecture on peace by someone with bloody hands.

Even an ethically challenged political leader can occasionally stumble on an indisputable truth. As he notes in the concluding paragraph, we are all equal in God's eyes. That reminder is necessary because too many American politicians like to pretend we are morally, economically, and, of course, militarily superior to the rest of the world as if we are a shining city reflecting God's blessings.

There is little doubt that our foreign policy is quite far from exceptional. For every cent we spend on helping other countries provide its citizens with basic necessities and a few niceties, we spend ten dollars on military training and hardware. I suppose you could call that a perverse form of exceptionality.

Putin overlooked a few other ways in America is truly exceptional.

We stand head and shoulders above the rest of the developed world in our neglect of people with psychiatric disorders. Now if you are blessed with wealth or a generous insurance plan, you can find care for mental illness in a spa-like settings. The less fortunate often find themselves living on the streets or in jails. At least a quarter of the homeless population suffer from debilitating psychiatric symptoms with little hope of effective diagnosis, treatment, or protective care. To further add to the suffering of these people, political leaders across the nation have passed ordinances that effectively criminalize homelessness. Here is a recent example from the great state of Florida. Cook County in Illinois closed the majority of its community mental health centers only to have many former patients wind up in jail.

Ask yourself what kind of civilized nation treats its mental ill with such neglect, contempt, and cruelty. This national disgrace is not limited to our civilian population. Mental health problems are also epidemic in combat veterans that served in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially those wounded in combat. There is growing evidence that combat traumatic brain injuries are a major risk factor in the high suicide rate of veterans. Neglecting the mental health needs of the men and woman that have served our nation in uniform is certainly exceptional.

And let's not forget our deadly obsession with guns. We have more guns than people in the United States. We also have the distinction of having gun violence and death rates at least 20 times higher than other developed nations. Rampage killings have become common in our schools, businesses, government buildings, and even military bases. After each bloodbath, the National Rifle Association goes on its own rampage against any politician that dares suggest we need gun control. Our appetite for guns and violence on our streets is indeed exceptional.

The specter of mental illness can also be found in our grim body count statistics. In the first decade of the 21st century, 60% of gun deaths were self-inflicted. That is over 200,000 suicides. Let's call it American roulette. Our gun culture makes it easy to successfully act on suicidal thoughts, which are all too common with depressive disorders.

Pastor Rick Warren's son recently shot himself to death, leaving the family to wrestle with questions of why.

Rick and Kay Warren have been outspoken about the plague of gun violence in the United States, especially since their son, Matthew, took his own life in April after what the family call a lifelong struggle with mental illness. 

“In spite of America’s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided,” Warren wrote to staffers at Saddleback Church, his megachurch in Orange County, California.

Pastor Warren displayed the strength and courage that comes from following Christ when he tweeted  this after his son's suicide:

Someone on the internet sold Matthew an unregistered gun. I pray he seeks God's forgiveness. I forgive him. #MATTHEW 6:15 

2:44 PM - 11 Apr 2013

God's grace and mercy is desperately needed in this country. On Monday, another mentally disturbed individual went on a shooting spree at the Washington Navy Yard, killing 12 and wounding 8 others before being shot by police. We learned the shooter was a veteran with mental health problems and a history of gun-related incidents. Like other recent rampage killers, he decided to take innocent lives before committing suicide or being killed by law enforcement. Yet our political leaders have become so intimidated by the gun lobbyists that any discussion of background checks or closing legal loopholes is now prohibited.

Putin is wrong. We are exceptional in some very sick and twisted ways. The combination of our failed mental health system and our love of guns and violence continues to have disastrous consequences. After each tragedy, our glorious political leaders invoke God's name, offer prayers of condolence, and do nothing. That comes across as exceptionally cowardly and cynical.

The only silver lining in the wake of the latest rampage is an exceptional bit of satire. Political operative David Frum tweeted out five rules for how we should talk about gun violence.

Rule 1: It is "ghoulish" to suggest in any way that the easy availability of guns might in any way enable gun slaughter.

Rule 2: Gun crime in the president's hometown proves that guns anywhere else are no fit topic of conversation.

Rule 3: All gun owners are to be complimented as responsible and law-abiding until they personally have hurt themselves or somebody else.

Rule 4: Any attempt to stop mass casualty shootings is "political." Allowing them to continue is"non-political."

Rule 5: Gun ownership is essential to freedom, as in Serbia & Guatemala. Gun restrictions lead to tyranny, as in Australia & Canada.

So you see, Mr. Putin, we are exceptional. Just not in ways we can be proud of.