For purposes of today’s discussion, let’s agree to set aside the ethical and moral issues surrounding America’s use of torture, and the arguments on both sides of the question whether to release the documents we’ve seen this week.  These are all important discussions to have, and the national debate should continue.

Today, though, let’s look at politics and leadership, and consider President Obama’s words and actions on these issues.

One of my toaist teachers urged his students to strive to be ordinary.  At first, none of us grasped what he was saying, for, as far as we were concerned, we were his students so as to become well above ordinary.  Martial arts were only part of our study, and basic taoist teachings were the major curriculum.

By ordinary, though, he meant something entirely different.  He was teaching us about process, and the even flow of our lives. . . . words accurately and fully reflecting beliefs, actions always consistent with words.  In that way, our lives would have that evenness of process, that ordinary flow of beliefs to words to actions.

For us, it became the measure we took of a person.  If one’s actions were consistent with the words expressed, that person earned our respect and our trust.  We came to realize, also, that it marked a person worthy to follow, a sign of leadership.

President Obama has waffled on the torture issue, and the wisdom of document release, and the prospects of prosecution.  When his original positions received push back from the left, he succumbed to it.

Whatever is going to happen, whether committee hearings will ensue, whether Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., determines prosecution is warranted, whether a commission is to be appointed, President Obama has the ability to control events as he wishes.

We tell ourselves and each other we want as our President a person who thinks the way we do, who holds all of the positions and persuasions we do.  We determine our votes by those political and philosophical stands candidates take.

But, we should also choose as our President a person whose words accurately reflect his beliefs and whose actions will always be consistent with his words.  We want leaders, and that is the stuff of which leaders are made.  Unrealistic and naive, perhaps, but it’s still what we want.

Rather than let ignoble politicians on the Hill take this issue under grandstanding wings, and rather than let it become a huge distraction that sucks energy and effort from resolving military action and presence in Iraq, from our military presence and the needs of our troops in Afghanistan, from the serious threat of Taliban acquisition of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, from the country’s and world’s economic crisis, and from so many other pressing issues . . . . .

President Obama should tell us what he believes, act on those beliefs, and then bring it to a firm finality.  Lead, and let both the left and right wail away into the night.

Mr. President, this issue will not be resolved unless and until you end it.  Passing it off to the Attorney General and announcing it will be up to him to decide is less than what we need and deserve from you at this moment.  No good will come to our country by allowing this to fester, and if it gets into the hands of the Hill, and with cameras rolling, far less than good will come.

It’s an issue requiring your leadership. The Washington Post’s article in this morning’s edition, which you can find here,  gives us a good view of the torture memo release debate and dynamics at the White House last week.

It helps us to see a firm and decisive leader.  It instills confidence and gives good reason for hope, no matter the issue being decided.  This one requires that firm hand, so frame the question, give us your answer, control the debate, and be resolute.

The debate over America’s soul is one worth having, but it should be more reasoned than will be the case in public hearings and public trials.  Facing up to past sins is important, to be sure, but the future depends on a whole host of more pressing matters than that penance right now.