The Pietist Schoolman

On October 28, 2002, several days after I learned about the death of my friend Paul Wellstone, I recommitted myself to a political process that values “liberty and justice for all.” There is a need to always read the Bible not from a theology of eliteness but through the eyes of those who suffer and are marginalized. These were the people to whom most of Jesus’ significant expressions of the faith were announced. I sat down that evening and penned the following tribute:

“A Tribute to Senator Paul Wellstone: A Faithful Public Servant”
G. William Carlson, Professor of History and Political Science
Bethel College, 10/28/02

Today we sorrow. We have lost a friend. The Psalmist echoes our feeling of loss and emptiness.

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.” (Psalm 71:1-4)

In times like these even the “why” question seems a helpless quest for understanding and meaning. Answers seem trite and not very assuring.

However, we know Lord that you are with us as we sorrow.

You are our refuge.

You are committed to turning your ear to us in time of need.

You are our rock and our fortress.

You will never put us to shame.

What a promise to be able to claim!

Senator Paul Wellstone’s life and politics has been faithful to the mandate the Psalmist gave Solomon about what it meant to be a just and righteous public servant:

Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
He will judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor…

He will deliver the needy who cry out,
and the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight. (Psalm 72: 1-4, 12-14)

Paul Wellstone’s legacy is a valued and valuable one. He was frequently the “conscience” of the Senate and the champion of families.

As a child of immigrants from Russia, he advocated on behalf of the needs of our new immigrants and welcomed them as citizens to their new land.

He was a strong advocate for the “little guy” in an environment that seems to only honor those who have attained economic privilege and power.

He valued families and believed that they will be honorably effective if they have a living wage, access to health care and housing.

Although he supported the war against the “terrorism” he understood that America worked best in the world as an agent of peacemaking and the builder of international coalitions for economic and social justice.

He understood that the tragedy of war often meant that too many of our young men and women are injured and maimed and therefore veterans needed to have their service rewarded by adequate health care and quality of life services.

Wellstone believed that the nation’s children needed to have access to quality education and learn the “character” values essential to becoming wise contributors to America’s democratic experiment.

He understood from his religious background that the earth is the Lord’s and we are its caretakers. He championed the wise stewardship of the resources of this planet and believed that its resources are to be used for the well being of all its members.

He championed that plight of workers whether in the sweat shops of the third world or the factories and job sites in the United States.

He believed in Martin Luther King’s image of the beloved community; a community that modeled ethnic diversity and equal opportunity.

He adhered to “civility” in public discourse and believed that Americans could be challenged to build a strong, vibrant community.

He loved this nation and honored the values for which stands: “liberty and justice for all.”

We have been with Senator Wellstone on many political occasions and have said a Baptist “Amen” to many of the speeches he has given.