By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Author’s Note: Grace Under Pressure is an ongoing series of posts honoring everyday people who courageously make positive differences in their own lives and consequently in the lives of others. It is my own personal affirmation that unexpected heroes live among us and that their service is quiet but unshakable proof that virtue really is its own reward – and ours, too.
They buried little eight-year-old Martin Cobb, Jr. here in Richmond (Va.) on Friday afternoon. Rev. Theodore L. Hughey, pastor of Abundant Life Church, praised the youngster for his courage and then went on to condemn the community and the bureaucrats who oversee it for letting crime fester and forgetting about the children who suffer from it. A handmade sign above the tiny coffin read “Pound for pound, year for year, few greater heroes … if any.”
And little Martin, as his neighbors in the Mosby Court public housing project knew him, was a hero. A small stature caused by an open heart surgery while he was just three-months-old hid a fighting spirit. Many neighbors thought he was only three or four years old. One of them, Harry Hunter, recalled that “He was so small, I used to carry him in my book bag.”
But no one “carried” Little Martin on Thursday evening a week ago when he died defending his sister from a sexual attack at the hands of an alleged 16-year-old sexual predator who, at his young age, had already been charged with viciously assaulting another young boy and has suffered mental health issues.
Marty and his eleven-year-old sister were devoted to each other. Growing up without a father figure and living with a mother who worked to sustain them, they stuck together. Local proprietors recalled the two stopping by in the afternoon to indulge Marty’s rather modest vice for “Hot Fries,” a fast-food snack with a kick of Tabasco. Mosby Court is one of Richmond’s toughest neighborhoods plagued with crime and drugs so the two were always together out of love for each other and fear of the surroundings.
On Thursday evening last, love and fear would intersect at the children’s home on Brandon Road with horrific consequences. Then, according to press accounts, 16-year-old Mairese Jershon Washington, burst into the residence allegedly intent on sexually assaulting Marty’s sister. Confronted with the invasion, Little Martin fought back with all that his four-foot frame would muster. It took a brick to the head and a strangler’s hold to stop the young boy. His assailant retreated, but not before dumping Martin’s little body on the railroad tracks behind his home.
Mourners here Friday were sad and proud. “As soon as he could talk, I told (him) he’s the man of the house. That’s what he did. He’s a hero,” his mother said. “I’m proud of him. I’m proud that he stuck up for his sister. He did what he was taught,” family friend Geraline Pitchford added. Another neighbor Sudan Aunu said, “To have the courage to defend his sister as if he was a grown man. His sister is alive today because of him.”
Rev. Hughey’s words struck some as off the point Friday or a disservice to the heroism of the victim. But were they really? How can a community allow a crime infested neighborhood to wallow decade after decade and do little if anything to address the real problems of poverty, lack of father figures, and unaddressed mental health issues. Virginia has been sorely lacking in answers for all three and it took a highly publicized case of State Senator Cree Deeds’ maiming at the hands of his mentally ill son to even raise the issue of shoddy mental health treatment. Poverty and unstable homes bear hardly a mention in this southern city where conservative policies rule and “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is deemed an article of faith yet only a historical reality for the second and third generation monetized elite who run the town. Rev. Hughey was calling that out and trying make Marty’s death mean more than an icon of family fidelity and intrepidity. He wanted the second grader’s death to bring change. But change for the benefit of the city’s children, it seems, takes more courage than even Martin’s selfless act can accomplish. It takes a community’s courage not just one small person’s. At least, the community has a blueprint for that change now.
A memorial fund has been established in Little Martin’s name at the Wells Fargo Bank called the “Keys For Marty” fund here in Richmond. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo branch.
Source: Richmond Times Dispatch
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
I know those socialist states such as Alaska that redistributes the wealth that your mento Sara Palins from? That type of socialism?
Keebler – Alaska is more like a corporation doling out yearly dividends. Has nothing to do with socialism.
Karen – capitalism stands in the way of the socialist state.
Quoted from the National Review article:
“In fact, many of the earliest critics of capitalism disdained it because it allowed merchants and others to rise above what was considered their natural station. Capitalism threatened the old social order. And it still does so today. Race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation are irrelevant, enabling individuals to rise above social attitudes and historical discrimination. To cite just one example, despite America’s deplorable history of slavery and racism, there are at least 35,000 African-American millionaires today.”
That disdain towards capitalism is still very much in evidence today, in the sneering at business owners and self-made millionaires. Academics especially often resent the wealth built by a self-made man or woman, feeling that they are far superior to anyone who made it through hard work.
Mr K – it is true that people who only read sources who agree with their views are narrow minded. You will notice that non-Liberal sources are routinely blown off, even though they are respectable publications with wide circulations.
And as for your befuddlement about the benefits of capitalism, improving economies and opportunities are responsible for lifting more people out of poverty than anything else. Don’t believe me? Ask Bono.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/358771/capitalisms-triumph-michael-tanner
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21578665-nearly-1-billion-people-have-been-taken-out-extreme-poverty-20-years-world-should-aim
Sorry I responded Karen. Your next post has less coherent thoughts.
Byron – modern day capitalism has done more to lift people out of poverty around the world than any other system. Give a man some bread and he eats for a day. Let him have his own business and he can feed himself and his family.
Karen,
I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean, I however will read all sources of news, book, articles regardless if they are liberal, progressive, socialist etc to get a better understanding of the different sides.
The Bly way to be prepared is to know what your opponent is going to argue and then fill in the gap. People who are so polarized that they only read one source that they agree with are short, narrow minded folks.
Elaine:
I believe that the article discussed religious charitable giving, including tithing. Charity is a mandate of many faiths, although not everyone follows it.
I donate to Good Will, also, and do not deduct it. I do not think they reviewed donations of cast offs as charitable giving; strictly monetary. And they did not review volunteer work.
I hear so often that Republicans “don’t care about the poor.” Hopefully, the fact that they do, in fact, give more to charity, puts things in perspective.
And as for being “slightly less compassionate,” one is to consider, are Democrats “slightly less compassionate” to religious charity causes, or other charities that resonate with conservatives? In truth, do we not all live our lives according to our own code? An atheist would not be expected to donate to a Catholic charity, and a Catholic would likely not donate to a Humanist 501c3 or Planned Parenthood. If a Democrat donates cast off clothing, and volunteers, but gives less money because they view taxes as charity, are they less compassionate than conservatives to donate more (including to religious charities), as well as volunteer and donate cast offs?
Or are we just a mix of people who just donate their time and money (and judgements) according to their own system of beliefs?
It’s so unfortunate when people refuse to read any article unless it was written by a Liberal.
When is Obama going to admit he’s a Muslim? When is Obama go to admit he is gay? When is Obama going to admit he was born in Kenya?
When when when.
If the numbers are correct, assuming 14,000,000 members of the Mormon Church:
35,000,000,000 in Buildings and Temples = $2,500 per member
7,000,000,000 in Tithes = $500anually or ~$42 per month
Karen,
Equal pay for women doing the same job as the man is much less than a woman. That caregiver stuff doesn’t come into the equation.
Byron,
When the wealthy are taxed at the same percentage as the middle class and poor, then maybe wealth can be created for all. Right now, can a middle class person take advantage of the 15% tax rate for all of his/her income? Capitalism only works well for all when it is regulated to even the playing field.
rafflaw – when is Obama going to pay the women who work for him the same as men?
Byron, LOL! I’m WAY past my peak. But I keep tipping generously.
the best way to end poverty is to create an environment where people can create wealth with relative ease.
Capitalism works really well everywhere it is tried, that is how you create wealth, encourage capitalism.
I have heard that people who leave a good tip are usually on fire in the sack.
Karen,
Many people give generously to their churches. There are some religions that require tithing. If that money goes to help the poor and needy, I’d call that true charity. I think a lot of money that is donated to charity goes unrecorded. My husband and I often donate to the Salvation Army, the Shriners (They have a children’s burn care hospital here in Massachusetts.), veterans groups, and other local charities that solicit around stores and supermarkets. We don’t deduct those donations on our taxes
*****
Mormon church earns $7 billion a year from tithing, analysis indicates
By Peter Henderson, Reuters
Monday Aug 13, 2012
http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/13/13262285-mormon-church-earns-7-billion-a-year-from-tithing-analysis-indicates
Excerpt:
SAN FRANCISCO — If the Mormon church were a business, wealthy adherents like Mitt Romney would count as its dominant revenue stream.
Its investment strategy would be viewed as risk-averse.
It would also likely attract corporate gadflies protesting a lack of transparency. They would call for less spending on real estate and more on charitable causes to improve membership growth — the Mormons’ return on investment.
Those are a few of the conclusions that can be drawn from an analysis of the church’s finances by Reuters and University of Tampa sociologist Ryan Cragun.
Relying heavily on church records in countries that require far more disclosure than the United States, Cragun and Reuters estimate that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brings in some $7 billion annually in tithes and other donations.
It owns about $35 billion worth of temples and meeting houses around the world, and controls farms, ranches, shopping malls and other commercial ventures worth many billions more.
Elaine, I stated explicitly my sampling was limited to me. Your home state ranks 40th, averaging 15.7%. My source is quartz, I think it’s qz.com?
Washington Times……Moonie paper far right paper. Journalism is not often practiced there.
Elaine:
“Maybe the liberals some people socialize with are cheapskates. That doesn’t make it true of all liberals.” Maybe that is also the case with Mespo’s conservative friends.
Here is an interesting article comparing the charitable giving of Republicans and Democrats. In essence, Democrats view high taxes as “charitable giving” and typically donate to secular causes. Republicans are more prone to give to religious charities, and give a higher percentage of their income.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/20/religion-politics-affect-americans-philanthropy/?page=all
Now, personally, I do not count my taxes as donating to charity.