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
Sorry Paul, we will try to do better. 🙂
Annie – I have noticed that people read a lot into what I say, that I really did not say.
Pat, pat, pat…..
Paul, it sure sounded like you were patting yourself on the back.
Paul said:
“mespo – I spent years teaching kids like Marty and his sister, making sure they got a good education and making sure they got into college if that is what they wanted. ”
I spent years teaching and helping children too. That was my job–as it was yours. We got paid to do it.
Elaine – you are right. I worked the inner city with kids like Marty and his sister. I did not do it for the pay, although it helped. After the first job working with at-risk kids, that is what I looked for.
Karen, I have several friends and family who are on the exchanges
and all of them have comparable plans and costs or a savings. Here in Wisconsin, none of them cannot find doctors who won’t accept their plans.
We would not .
David,
The more you write, the more I am convinced that any candidate you support I’d have to vote against on principle.
You are opening my eyes to how scary people like you are in positions of power.
I’m watching the Texas elections and you have a convicted senator of security frauds running for a higher office. Supported by the tea party and endorsed by Ted Cruz. You also have a another GOP candidate that can’t figure out how to run a business and pay taxes. And you and a less that enthusiast candidate that’s in office and trying to retain the same.
In all three of these candidates you have the GOP behind them or next to there name. Don’t you think this s going to be an election if the lesser of three evils?
Keep on spouting off the ethics that you have and why everyone else is evil or lacks morals.
It’s a blame game and you know it, if being in politics was virtuous we would have so many running for office.
We need more conservatives around here. They’re fun.
Karen S:
“Karen S
Mespo and Annie:
Since you are staunch supporters of the quality and affordability of Obamacare, I urge you both to cancel your current policies and take Obamacare ones. And then please report back to us on how you fare”
*****************************
Apparently reading comprehension is not your strong suit. The point of my comment was that I did get an Exchange Plan (that means Obamacare, there, ms. expert) and it is almost universally accepted and saved our firm about 35% in premium. Since I have all my doctors things are great, thank you.
Paul:
“Paul Schulte
mespo – still waiting to hear what you have done for the Martys of Richmond. And you did not skewer my logic. ”
***********************
You’ll get it when its relevant to discussion.
mespo – its relevant right now.
http://international.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/2013/08/07/do-some-other-countries-have-health-care-all-figured-out/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/health-costs-how-the-us-compares-with-other-countries/
Mespo and Annie:
Since you are staunch supporters of the quality and affordability of Obamacare, I urge you both to cancel your current policies and take Obamacare ones. And then please report back to us on how you fare.
Karen, please explain how other countries who spend less on healthcare have better healthcare than we do.
Annie – I can explain that. We pay for the R & D on medications, they don’t. I am not sure I would argue that anyone has better healthcare than we do. If we cut off our drugs to them, they would be a third-world country.
Mespo:
Please read my comments with more comprehension. I repeatedly have referred to the overall rates of physicians not accepting Obamacare, cited sources such as medical associations, and even copied the letter from one of my own doctor’s offices to prove “it is really happening.” I can provide similar letters from each of my doctors’ offices.
And I have repeatedly urged you to verify this for yourself.
If you are disinclined to do so, fine, but please do not make factual misrepresentations of my statements.
Annie:
“Shame on them” for not accepting Exchange policies?
Could you please explain, from an accounting standpoint, how a physician can pay rent, salaries, malpractice insurance, etc on $27/office visit, while spending enough time with each patient? Please show your work, and no worm holes or breaks in the space/time continuum allowed.
Karen S:
You and Paul should get married. You have a lot in common. You tell us Obamacare sucks ’cause your one dermatologist won’t take it. I tell you scores of physicians in Richmond will take it and you accuse me of too small a sample. That’s a riot. I see a comedy team in y’all’s future. How about Stiller & Meara.
My comments have been eaten by Word Mess.
In neighboring West Virginia, 20,131 people signed up for Obamacare.