My blog is a tribute to my beautiful son, Justin DeSha-Overcash. On occasion I add a mixture of my thoughts, information I consider [need to know], truthful and researched comments (which contain my own opinions) on family, VIOLENT CRIME in America, the judicial system, the US failing economy and the decline of sane political ethical practices. I AM JUSTIN'S MOMMA AND I WILL NOT SIT STILL WHILE ANYONE HARMS ANOTHER HUMAN OR ANIMAL
Friday, July 19, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Time Does Not Heal a Mother's Heart
Yesterday July 11, 2013 marked two years and
six months since Justin went home. My physical pain, my grief, my
sorrow, my bereavement, my inexpressible need to hold my child in my
arms is NOT lessened. I have no inclination why [anyone] would even
think, let alone speak words, pursuant to my pain lessening over time.
JUSTIN IS MY CHILD; not my pet, not my wallet, not a tangible piece of
memorabilia......JUSTIN was to be my Family's LEGACY. He would have
married and produced children to carry on his legacy. So for those who
believe I can [or anyone can] in any way recover; I pray this horrible
nightmare NEVER happen to your child. Just TRY to put yourself in the
shoes of PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN. I remain Justin's loving, pained, walking dead momma. I love you my beautiful son from now throughout eternity.
Justin on the left and [a great friend] Jesse Wimert on the right; Halloween 2009; better times!
Justin on the left and [a great friend] Jesse Wimert on the right; Halloween 2009; better times!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ~ Murderers Released; People Jailed for FREEDOM of SPEECH
Below I have copied and pasted an article that [blew me away]!
Someone {ANYONE} please explain WHY DO murderers WALK FREE in America YET this young man sits in jail for months WHILE HIS [RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH] is continuing to be VIOLATED!!
OMG! Have people gone 'mad'?? I freaking give up...Justin's [I have to be living in the Twilight Zone] momma
Ya'll be careful what ya'll say, or think, or do...as predicted; BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!!!!
The Christian Science
Monitor Weekly Digital Edition
Did Justin Carter make a threat, or a sarcastic joke? That’s the question in the case of the New Braunfels, Texas, teenager arrested for a comment posted on Facebook that’s generating national attention.
Mr. Carter was arrested several months ago on a third-degree felony charge of making a “terroristic threat.” According to court documents, police allege that he posted, “I’m [expletive] in the head alright. I’ma shoot up a kindergarten/ And watch the blood of the innocent rain down/ And eat the beating heart of one of them.”
According to Carter’s family and lawyer, the comment was a sarcastic response to a comment by another Facebook poster. He was 18 at the time, and “this was banter by kids on the Internet…. He’s a gamer…. He never intended to threaten anyone, he wasn’t serious,” says Donald Flanary, a defense attorney who recently took up the case on a pro bono basis.
A
tip routed to a regional intelligence center led to Carter’s arrest,
Mr. Flanary says. “I can see how law enforcement can be sensitive to
those kinds of comments, and I’m glad that there’s a system to catch
it,” he adds. But for Carter to be jailed for months based on Facebook
comments taken out of context, with bail set at $500,000 – about five
times higher than many murder cases – is an injustice, he says.
This isn’t the first time a teen Facebook post has led to charges of making threats. In Massachusetts this spring, an 18-year-old was arrested for a comment referring to bombing and murder, but a grand jury determined it was in the context of rap lyrics he was writing rather than a genuine threat.
There’s no widespread trend of such cases, “but even a handful of cases where Americans lose their liberty for intemperate postings should get our attention,” says Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center at the Newseum in Washington and dean of the College of Mass Communication at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. “There are safeguards that should lead to a critical analysis of provocative speech,” he says.
In Carter’s case, Mr. Paulson says, it seems like “the entire [legal] system has overreacted to this post.”
It’s also one example of the myriad ways people are stumbling into trouble for behavior that has a wider audience on the Internet but would never get people into trouble back in the day when trash-talking simply took place in the living room as people played a violent video game, or when drunkenness was witnessed only by a few friends at a party.
Societally, people may want to steer fellow citizens away from using violent imagery in their online comments, but when it comes to police involvement, “it’s critical that we ensure their constitutional rights are protected, and free speech is at the core of that,” Paulson says.
A hearing to reconsider Carter’s bail is set for July 16.
Carter’s father tells NPR that his son has been traumatized in jail – seriously assaulted and put in solitary confinement because he’s been depressed. Attorney Flanary says that Carter could eventually pursue a federal civil rights lawsuit for being wrongfully arrested and detained.
The legal process has failed at several points along the way,
Flanary says. Carter was arrested before police confirmed that the
Facebook post genuinely came from his computer – a step that’s usually
routine before even suspected child pornographers are arrested, he says.
Police searched his house and found no guns or other threatening
material. And it appears that they didn’t look at the context of the
Facebook post before arresting him.
Flanary says that prosecutors have since subpoenaed that information from Facebook but haven’t produced anything along those lines yet.
Flanary also says the small screenshot originally sent by the tipster includes a negative comment against Carter, and that context was not included in the arrest warrant and indictment materials.
Context is important because if Carter’s post was provoked by another’s comment and was followed up by an acronym such as JK – for “just kidding” – as his father has said in an interview with National Public Radio -- then on the face of it, it would clearly not be a threat, Paulson of the First Amendment Center says.
Flanary speculates that one reason Carter has been jailed is that “no individual agency wants to be the one that says, ‘It’s not a threat, let it go,’ because then if something happens … they have to explain why they didn’t do more.”
Comal County (Texas) District Attorney Jennifer Tharp would not comment on the details of a pending case but said in a press release that the charge carries a potential penalty of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A defendant never previously convicted of a felony may be eligible for “deferred adjudication community supervision,” which, if served successfully, would not result in a criminal record.
Ever since the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, many states have bolstered laws to make it clear that threats against schools will be taken seriously and prosecuted, says Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center in Westlake Village, Calif. Indeed, tips from students about suspicious statements by their peers have prevented school attacks in recent years.
But threat assessment teams that include educators, law enforcement, and mental health experts should be in place to determine when someone’s comments or actions constitute a real threat, Mr. Stephens says.
“We rely on those enforcing the laws to use good, solid, fair, consistent judgment, and that seems to be the question in this [Carter] case – whether it’s been fair and reasonable,” Stephens says. If prosecutors can’t at some point “produce their threat assessment process, they’ve got a real problem,” he says.
Someone {ANYONE} please explain WHY DO murderers WALK FREE in America YET this young man sits in jail for months WHILE HIS [RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH] is continuing to be VIOLATED!!
OMG! Have people gone 'mad'?? I freaking give up...Justin's [I have to be living in the Twilight Zone] momma
Ya'll be careful what ya'll say, or think, or do...as predicted; BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!!!!
The Christian Science
Monitor Weekly Digital Edition
Did Justin Carter make a threat, or a sarcastic joke? That’s the question in the case of the New Braunfels, Texas, teenager arrested for a comment posted on Facebook that’s generating national attention.
Mr. Carter was arrested several months ago on a third-degree felony charge of making a “terroristic threat.” According to court documents, police allege that he posted, “I’m [expletive] in the head alright. I’ma shoot up a kindergarten/ And watch the blood of the innocent rain down/ And eat the beating heart of one of them.”
According to Carter’s family and lawyer, the comment was a sarcastic response to a comment by another Facebook poster. He was 18 at the time, and “this was banter by kids on the Internet…. He’s a gamer…. He never intended to threaten anyone, he wasn’t serious,” says Donald Flanary, a defense attorney who recently took up the case on a pro bono basis.
This isn’t the first time a teen Facebook post has led to charges of making threats. In Massachusetts this spring, an 18-year-old was arrested for a comment referring to bombing and murder, but a grand jury determined it was in the context of rap lyrics he was writing rather than a genuine threat.
There’s no widespread trend of such cases, “but even a handful of cases where Americans lose their liberty for intemperate postings should get our attention,” says Ken Paulson, president of the First Amendment Center at the Newseum in Washington and dean of the College of Mass Communication at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. “There are safeguards that should lead to a critical analysis of provocative speech,” he says.
In Carter’s case, Mr. Paulson says, it seems like “the entire [legal] system has overreacted to this post.”
It’s also one example of the myriad ways people are stumbling into trouble for behavior that has a wider audience on the Internet but would never get people into trouble back in the day when trash-talking simply took place in the living room as people played a violent video game, or when drunkenness was witnessed only by a few friends at a party.
Societally, people may want to steer fellow citizens away from using violent imagery in their online comments, but when it comes to police involvement, “it’s critical that we ensure their constitutional rights are protected, and free speech is at the core of that,” Paulson says.
A hearing to reconsider Carter’s bail is set for July 16.
Carter’s father tells NPR that his son has been traumatized in jail – seriously assaulted and put in solitary confinement because he’s been depressed. Attorney Flanary says that Carter could eventually pursue a federal civil rights lawsuit for being wrongfully arrested and detained.
Flanary says that prosecutors have since subpoenaed that information from Facebook but haven’t produced anything along those lines yet.
Flanary also says the small screenshot originally sent by the tipster includes a negative comment against Carter, and that context was not included in the arrest warrant and indictment materials.
Context is important because if Carter’s post was provoked by another’s comment and was followed up by an acronym such as JK – for “just kidding” – as his father has said in an interview with National Public Radio -- then on the face of it, it would clearly not be a threat, Paulson of the First Amendment Center says.
Flanary speculates that one reason Carter has been jailed is that “no individual agency wants to be the one that says, ‘It’s not a threat, let it go,’ because then if something happens … they have to explain why they didn’t do more.”
Comal County (Texas) District Attorney Jennifer Tharp would not comment on the details of a pending case but said in a press release that the charge carries a potential penalty of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A defendant never previously convicted of a felony may be eligible for “deferred adjudication community supervision,” which, if served successfully, would not result in a criminal record.
Ever since the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, many states have bolstered laws to make it clear that threats against schools will be taken seriously and prosecuted, says Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center in Westlake Village, Calif. Indeed, tips from students about suspicious statements by their peers have prevented school attacks in recent years.
But threat assessment teams that include educators, law enforcement, and mental health experts should be in place to determine when someone’s comments or actions constitute a real threat, Mr. Stephens says.
“We rely on those enforcing the laws to use good, solid, fair, consistent judgment, and that seems to be the question in this [Carter] case – whether it’s been fair and reasonable,” Stephens says. If prosecutors can’t at some point “produce their threat assessment process, they’ve got a real problem,” he says.
News Article Maryland's Governor SCREWS VICTIMS of VIOLENCE
note *** the Governor's office moved the VICTIMS funding to HIS OFFICE???? Then an article followed which stated the Victim's Funds were moved for to Governor O'Malley's office 'safe keeping'; adding there was only around $200,000 [there is much more money involved than recorded...PONZI SCHEME PERPETRATORS! Read the below attached link articles; you will be shocked....
I am Justin's momma
http://www.gazette.net/article/20111111/NEWS/711119897/1057/grants-assist-crime-victims&template=southernMaryland
Justin Vance DeSha-Overcash
May 1, 1988~January 11, 2011
Murdered in his home, in broad daylight, saving two fellow college alumni
from a masked, armed, gunman wearing an ankle monitor received for a
Felony II Handgun Charge [in the District of Columbia] TWENTY TWO
days before MURDERING my SON in cold blood.
VICTIMS DEMAND HUMANE RIGHTS AND PUSH LAW MAKERS
FOR a LEGAL [LEVEL] playing field when coming up against a CRIMINAL.
Justin is but one of thousands [AND THOUSANDS] of VICTIMS of VIOLENT CRIME
who endured VIOLATION [OVER & OVER] IN THE PG COUNTY MD JUDICIAL SYSTEM!
America MUST fully commit to THE VICTIM'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM;
thus, eliminating the CRIMINAL judicial system [COLLUSION].
Stand UP, Speck UP, Do NOT BACK DOWN as our times change so must our LAWS. LAWS
MUST be written to meet the ever growing changes in our populace. To STOP those whom believe
they are entitled to take what ever they want or KILL whom ever they please is OVER.
THE TIME IS NOW...
"SOMEONE MUST STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING." Justin's momma April 25, 2011
I remain Justin's [PROACTIVE] momma
Thursday, July 4, 2013
We are Americans "LET FREEDOM RING"
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
REPOST by Karen DeSha (Notes) on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 9:30pm
Since July 4, 1776; an amazing time of humility, humanity, bipartisanship and passion [great passion]. Like the birth of a star, deep within the Heavens, [the birth of
our Nation] was no easy task. The writings of our Nations Declaration of Independence and Constitution show these great men coming together for one purpose ~unity~. Their sworn duty; to insure our fledgling Nation would thrive and grow. Our Forefathers compiled their knowledge to provide for this great Nation's future.
"The right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness......"
It is my opinion here and now, in 2013, the words that were set forth 237 years ago to guide and insure endurance of this country and LIFELONG FREEDOM for Her citizens has been purposely
twisted, purposefully misconstrued, purposely misrepresented and purposely been made to read in a manner the authors did not
intend. "Someone must stand up and say something!" Be the person who stands up and speaks up! God bless I remain Justin's momma
Two hundred and thirty seven years ago, today, John Hancock made the following speech;
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
— John Hancock
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
— John Hancock
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Eleven Year Old Child Left at School
Not every story about Justin which I hold in my
heart is humorous. The following surreal occurrence left Justin's father and I
terrified for our 11 year old son.
We worked a lot but then again people with [A type] personalities tend to be 'work-a-holics'. On this particular beautiful North Carolina Spring day Justin's dad and I decided to leave work early; not for anything specific we were driving around town [our home city Salisbury, NC] talking, enjoying the weather and the beautiful flowers in bloom.
Justin, as usual was at the YMCA; was at the after school program the 'Y' provided for working parents. Every day the staff drove a van to the middle school, which Justin attended, and picked up any of the students enrolled and took them to the 'Y' until their parents came to pick up them up after work.
Around 5:45pm we headed toward the 'Y' to pick up Justin. I decided to wait in the car while Justin's dad went in and signed him out. I could clearly see the front door of the 'Y' in my side view mirror waiting for a glimpse of Justin to come tearing out of the door; as eleven year old boys do! I was peering into the side view mirror when suddenly Justin's dad came rushing out of the door, walking hurriedly walking with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground. Instinctively I knew something was wrong and I shouted, "Where's Justin?" Randy looked up, his pallor pale and shouted back, "THEY DON'T KNOW!" Oh my god; I froze in complete disbelief! My heart began to pound so fast I thought it would leap from my chest. Justin's dad jumped into the car and pulled away from the curb; I was frantically attempting to dial our home number on my cell phone but my hands were shaking so hard it took me six attempts to get through, no answer! I forced myself to listen to our voice mail, no messages! At this point I was on the verge of a breakdown and Justin's dad was so [out of it] I realized he was driving aimlessly not knowing where to go or where to go first? I called the YMCA and tried desperately to stay calm; all I could say was "Where is my son?" I learned then when the 'Y' van picked up the middle school students this day a female student told the driver Justin was not in school that day! I screamed, "I always call you if he is out!" immediately hanging up!
Justin's dad and I quickly decided to start from square one; we headed to the middle school first. By this time my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears; I wanted to know where my son is, is he okay, is he scared? I was truly beside myself as we turned down the road toward the school. As we rounded the last corner I caught a glimpse of Justin and my door was open and I hit the ground running before Justin's dad could stop the car. Justin began running toward me I grabbed him in my arms; I was so relieved to hold my son I couldn't stop hugging him. I dropped to my knees on the ground with Justin's face in my hands and said, "Are you okay baby?" Justin responded, "Yes mommie I'm okay now that you and daddy are here I am real fine." I asked Justin what happened, how did he get left behind? Justin responded, "Mommie when I came out to get in the van it wasn't here. So I sat on the steps waiting but they never came; so I decided to do my homework. After I finished my homework I read a little while but when it started to get late I started to look around and I made a plan." Startled by Justin's comment I asked, "What kind of plan honey?" Justin explained his plan, "Well, I decided if I was still here when it started to get dark I was going to hide in those bushes over there until daddy and you came to get me." I am so proud that Justin stayed calm and did not wonder from the school grounds; I am horrified that the 'Y' staff were not more diligent in their duties. They left Justin alone for three and a half hours! Nor was I very comforted to learn the principal walked by Justin [not once] BUT twice yet he never stopped to ask Justin why he was STILL on school property. Justin's dad and I hugged and hugged Justin we were so relieved he was safe and in our arms. We told him how proud we were that he stayed at the school so we could find him. We told him it was a good thing he did not wonder off but waited so patiently.
As I typed this story [today] the same feelings I experienced on this day, so long ago, came rushing back so strongly. I miss you honey and I love you more than any words can express. Thank you for being in my life...thank you for being the person who helped me realize the value and worth of unconditional love my son and placing others before oneself~Justin Vance DeSha-Overcash May 1, 1988 ~ January 11, 2011...I remain your loving and devoted momma <3 span="">
We worked a lot but then again people with [A type] personalities tend to be 'work-a-holics'. On this particular beautiful North Carolina Spring day Justin's dad and I decided to leave work early; not for anything specific we were driving around town [our home city Salisbury, NC] talking, enjoying the weather and the beautiful flowers in bloom.
Justin, as usual was at the YMCA; was at the after school program the 'Y' provided for working parents. Every day the staff drove a van to the middle school, which Justin attended, and picked up any of the students enrolled and took them to the 'Y' until their parents came to pick up them up after work.
Around 5:45pm we headed toward the 'Y' to pick up Justin. I decided to wait in the car while Justin's dad went in and signed him out. I could clearly see the front door of the 'Y' in my side view mirror waiting for a glimpse of Justin to come tearing out of the door; as eleven year old boys do! I was peering into the side view mirror when suddenly Justin's dad came rushing out of the door, walking hurriedly walking with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground. Instinctively I knew something was wrong and I shouted, "Where's Justin?" Randy looked up, his pallor pale and shouted back, "THEY DON'T KNOW!" Oh my god; I froze in complete disbelief! My heart began to pound so fast I thought it would leap from my chest. Justin's dad jumped into the car and pulled away from the curb; I was frantically attempting to dial our home number on my cell phone but my hands were shaking so hard it took me six attempts to get through, no answer! I forced myself to listen to our voice mail, no messages! At this point I was on the verge of a breakdown and Justin's dad was so [out of it] I realized he was driving aimlessly not knowing where to go or where to go first? I called the YMCA and tried desperately to stay calm; all I could say was "Where is my son?" I learned then when the 'Y' van picked up the middle school students this day a female student told the driver Justin was not in school that day! I screamed, "I always call you if he is out!" immediately hanging up!
Justin's dad and I quickly decided to start from square one; we headed to the middle school first. By this time my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears; I wanted to know where my son is, is he okay, is he scared? I was truly beside myself as we turned down the road toward the school. As we rounded the last corner I caught a glimpse of Justin and my door was open and I hit the ground running before Justin's dad could stop the car. Justin began running toward me I grabbed him in my arms; I was so relieved to hold my son I couldn't stop hugging him. I dropped to my knees on the ground with Justin's face in my hands and said, "Are you okay baby?" Justin responded, "Yes mommie I'm okay now that you and daddy are here I am real fine." I asked Justin what happened, how did he get left behind? Justin responded, "Mommie when I came out to get in the van it wasn't here. So I sat on the steps waiting but they never came; so I decided to do my homework. After I finished my homework I read a little while but when it started to get late I started to look around and I made a plan." Startled by Justin's comment I asked, "What kind of plan honey?" Justin explained his plan, "Well, I decided if I was still here when it started to get dark I was going to hide in those bushes over there until daddy and you came to get me." I am so proud that Justin stayed calm and did not wonder from the school grounds; I am horrified that the 'Y' staff were not more diligent in their duties. They left Justin alone for three and a half hours! Nor was I very comforted to learn the principal walked by Justin [not once] BUT twice yet he never stopped to ask Justin why he was STILL on school property. Justin's dad and I hugged and hugged Justin we were so relieved he was safe and in our arms. We told him how proud we were that he stayed at the school so we could find him. We told him it was a good thing he did not wonder off but waited so patiently.
As I typed this story [today] the same feelings I experienced on this day, so long ago, came rushing back so strongly. I miss you honey and I love you more than any words can express. Thank you for being in my life...thank you for being the person who helped me realize the value and worth of unconditional love my son and placing others before oneself~Justin Vance DeSha-Overcash May 1, 1988 ~ January 11, 2011...I remain your loving and devoted momma <3 span="">
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Death And Facebook /21st Century Eulogies
The following is an insightful article written by reporter noting change in America change is occurring; pushed mainly through continued development via technology. I remain Justin's loving momma
Facebook hosts electronic eulogies from the friends and acquaintances of Justin DeSha-Overcash
REPOST~ Posted on facebook page by Karen DeSha (Notes) on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 4:38pm
- By Rich Abdill
- April 7, 2011
Facebook hosts electronic eulogies from the friends and acquaintances of Justin DeSha-Overcash
I've been thinking a lot lately about Justin DeSha-Overcash. Drug dealer or not, he certainly didn't deserve to die in his basement over some money and weed. With all the news flying around about two men being arrested in connection with his murder, I've been rooting around the Internet for info, and the first thing I found was on what appears to be the Facebook account of Stephan Weaver, the man accused of being the getaway driver.
The murder happened in the afternoon of January 11. Just after 6 p.m. that day, Weaver changed his status to "PG county is way to crazy for me." Well, now we know we can blame geography for the senseless killing of a college student.
The only other bit of revealing information on his page is a change of relationship status on March 24: He listed himself as "in a relationship" with a young woman from Baltimore who surprisingly no longer lists him as her boyfriend.
But then I wandered over to Overcash's page, and came face-to-face with mourning in the 21st century.
The day of the murder, Overcash posted a link to a music video at 11:12 a.m. Less than five hours later, a woman posted only "It better not be true..." Then at 5:30, someone else said "Dude I need to hear from you." To his Facebook friends, Overcash wasn't dead yet.
Twenty minutes later, the first RIP message appeared — "I love you man, RIP." As if he'd be logging on from elsewhere and get the message.
Lots of people felt that way — 102 messages were posted on his wall before midnight. Some were simple — "Rest In Peace Justin" and "You will be missed. Rest in peace buddy." Others were songs, others were just simple memories, woven together into a patchwork obituary for a friend.
The posts rolled in over the next few days — Overcash started appearing in profile pictures, in other people's status updates. And the wall posts continued, some from close friends, but many from people who hadn't spoken to him in years. Others got very personal:
- "It has taken me a bit of time to write here. I just went to temple for the first time in a while and prayed for you."
"Rest easy Justin DeSha-Overcash. They got 'em."
Has the Internet changed the way we deal with life and death?
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