In Memoriam: WW2 Vet Delbert "Shorty" Belton (1924-2013)

[Mewsland]

I'm not much of a NSG poster, but I'd like to take a moment to speak about an issue that weighs heavily on my heart.


DELBERT "SHORTY" BELTON
1924-2013

Two days ago, in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 22, 2013, WW2 veteran Delbert Belton, affectionately called "Shorty" by his friends, succumbed to his injuries after having been beaten on the way to play a game of pool with a friend at the Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge number 2 in my hometown of Spokane, Washington the day before. It's believed that robbery was a motive, but all Shorty was carrying in his pockets? Pennies.

If the two teens who beat him to his eventual death wanted an easy robbery, they sure didn't get much out of it except a murder charge on top of robbery.

I didn't know Shorty very well, as we only encountered each other every now and then, but I've known him all of my life, and I've never met a kinder man. Shorty was always willing to lend a hand to those who needed it, but never expected anyone to come back and help him - which, living just a few blocks away, I and several others in our neighborhood did when his garage burnt down last year. Whenever Shorty and I encountered each other, we'd always get to talking about something or other, and we'd just sit and talk about whatever until something moved us on, usually my grandpa coming to talk to him. I attended a candlelight vigil at the Eagles lodge in Shorty's honor yesterday evening.

Shorty was wounded in the Battle of Okinawa - for which he received the Purple Heart - and kept on fighting for America's freedom. His last thoughts on this Earth should have been that his nation was grateful for his service - but instead, he was forced to stare human shortsightedness in the face in his final moments.

Shorty Belton didn't have to die on August 22. Nobody should have to suffer brutal acts like this.

The two suspects in Shorty's murder - one of whom was arrested Thursday - are both black teenagers, which leads to suspicion that this crime was also racially motivated.

If it was, then why the hell should justice for Shorty be subject to double standards like this? Racism is racism, whether or not it's a white or black or Asian man, or anything in between, being racist. If humanity is truly so shortsighted as to believe racism is only racism if it's a white person being racist, we have far more problems than we think.

If it wasn't, then why is it necessary to play the race card yet again? To excuse more racism? Why!? An innocent man DIED just so someone could steal a pocket full of pennies - isn't that enough of an issue for you!?

Enough of my soapboxing for this post.

I'd like to ask people to support justice for Shorty by liking this Facebook page, as well as petitioning the White House to speak out - one way or another - against the brutal act that claimed this kind man's life.

If you ask me...


Thank you.

[Gylias]

>claims racism is racism
>posts dumb image with the bullshit message "Trayvon Martin deserved to die because he was black and 'suspicious'! Delbert Benton didn't deserve to die because he was white and a WW2 vet!"

Too legit to quit, I see.

[Horsefish]

Oh dear.

It's almost like people don't understand why the Martin case was a big deal. Hint, it had to do with the fact the person who shot him was just let go by the police, whereas one of these has been arrested whilst the other one is being pursued and I have a feeling they wont be getting out of prison for a looooooooooooong time.

In regard to the whole "He only had pennies" therefore it must be a racially motivated attack, how where the two muggers supposed to know that?

[Mewsland]

I don't think you get the point of the post.

The Martin case was not racial - even the FBI got this. My point with that picture is that if Shorty's case is, how can a non-racially-motivated case be compared with a racially motivated one? That's the double standard I see in that picture.

And also note that nowhere is it said that I have any knowledge of whether or not this case is racially motivated, nor do I even state my opinion (I don't think it's racial, if this part of my post will even be read), so jumping to that conclusion is a fallacy of assumption.

[Gylias]

The Martin case was not racial - even the FBI got this.

You keep tellin' yourself that.

My point with that picture is that if Shorty's case is, how can a non-racially-motivated case be compared with a racially motivated one?

You tell us how you just so happen to know Belton's case was racially motivated but Martin's wasn't.

[Wind in the Willows]

R.I.P Shorty.

[Glasgia]

I doubt the attack was racially motivated, more that the teenagers coincidentally happened to be black and thoguht an old man was an easy target - they had no idea how much cash he was carrying, but I'd still like to give my good wishes to his friends and family, for I am sorry for their loss. Please do not try and make the death of a good man into a race issue.

[Mewsland]

Thank you, Glasgia. Some people get it. If race is behind it, which I too doubt, then so be it. If not, don't play the race card. Either way, a good man lost his life to an act of shortsighted violence.

[Gylias]

If not, don't play the race card.

Says the hypocrite who played the race card in the OP.

[Mewsland]

Where in my OP did I play a race card, barring an image which you misinterpreted the reasoning behind?

[Gylias]

Where in my OP did I play a race card, barring an image which you misinterpreted the reasoning behind?

The two suspects in Shorty's murder - one of whom was arrested Thursday - are both black teenagers, which leads to suspicion that this crime was also racially motivated.

They're black, so they're automatically killing him because he's white, eh?

Same way a white suspect kills a black person, lots of ignorants leap to his defense and claim there was no racial aspect to it, eh?

Racism is racism, whether or not it's a white or black or Asian man, or anything in between, being racist.

Contradicted by the rest of your post and the Trayvon Martin victim-blaming/slander.

If you can't make your argument without shooting yourself in the foot, maybe try leaving the argument-making to somebody better?

If humanity is truly so shortsighted as to believe racism is only racism if it's a white person being racist, we have far more problems than we think.

Unnecessary race card, accusing people of believing that it's only racism if a white person is the perpetrator. Implicitly ignoring the socioeconomic realities and history of the USA, as well as the class-race continuum. Failing to display a grasp of the nuances of the different kinds of bigotry and how they operate isn't helpful.

If it wasn't, then why is it necessary to play the race card yet again? To excuse more racism? Why!? An innocent man DIED just so someone could steal a pocket full of pennies - isn't that enough of an issue for you!?

>implying them damn black people murdered an innocent man to steal pennies because he was white
>implying Belton is more innocent than Martin because he's white ==>implying Belton deserved to live more than Martin

It's hard to see that part of your OP where you admitted that the suspects could very well have just been robbers unaware of how much money Belton was carrying because it's either nonexistent, or drowned by all the dog-whistling comparisons.

[Strykla]

Mewsland, I think people misinterpreted what you said in your OP; I myself didn't fully understand what you were getting on about the racial thing. Believe me, I think I can speak for most people on NS when I say that Mr. Belton's death was tragic.

[Horsefish]

Thank you, Glasgia. Some people get it. If race is behind it, which I too doubt, then so be it. If not, don't play the race card. Either way, a good man lost his life to an act of shortsighted violence.

So essentaily, race wasn't behind this one and I'm assuming you're drawing comparables with the Martin case and saying race wasn't a factor in that one either so it was stupid for it to become such a big deal?

Despite the fact the facebook picture you posted shows that there was an element of racism behind the Martin case even if it wasn't the reason Zimmerman shot him?

[Mewsland]

Thank you, Glasgia. Some people get it. If race is behind it, which I too doubt, then so be it. If not, don't play the race card. Either way, a good man lost his life to an act of shortsighted violence.

So essentaily, race wasn't behind this one and I'm assuming you're drawing comparables with the Martin case and saying race wasn't a factor in that one either so it was stupid for it to become such a big deal?

Despite the fact the facebook picture you posted shows that there was an element of racism behind the Martin case even if it wasn't the reason Zimmerman shot him?

It's a big deal because an innocent man died. What I'm saying is "isn't that enough?"

Also, that picture is there to show that people are drawing connections that don't exist. The perceived element of racism, which admittedly does exist in the Martin case and in this one, was not present in the actual case (which is what I'm looking at and trying to draw connections to).

Either way, like it or not, Trayvon Martin - regardless of whether he was black, white, or purple - was beating on another man and got shot in self-defense. It's something that shouldn't have to happen, and my heart goes out to Martin's friends and family, but that's what happened, and if Martin didn't want to die, he shouldn't have been beating on anyone.

Shorty Belton was beaten to death by two teens who, apparently, wanted to rob him - whether or not race matters is, to me at this point, a non-issue (hence my hedging in the OP and posting perspectives on both). The world has lost a kind-hearted man who fought for his nation's freedom to a brutal act of shortsighted violence. That's what really matters.

[Gylias]

It's a big deal because an innocent man died. What I'm saying is "isn't that enough?"

You're really bad at making points then.

Also, that picture is there to show that people are drawing connections that don't exist. The perceived element of racism, which admittedly does exist in the Martin case and in this one, was not present in the actual case (which is what I'm looking at and trying to draw connections to).

So, explain the racial element in this one? Is it the fact that the robbers happened to be black or something?

if Martin didn't want to die, he shouldn't have been beating on anyone.

Nice fucking victim-blaming. You're the Geraldo Rivera of empathy.

Shorty Belton was beaten to death by two teens who, apparently, wanted to rob him - whether or not race matters is, to me at this point, a non-issue (hence my hedging in the OP and posting perspectives on both).

So, we're supposed to discuss how awful it is that somebody died in a robbery? Isn't that a job for Captain Obvious?

What next, we're going to discuss how people sit on chairs?

The world has lost a kind-hearted man who fought for his nation's freedom to a brutal act of shortsighted violence. That's what really matters.

Not the first time it's happened.

[Knowlandia]

If Barack Obama had a son he would look like this mans murderer.

[Gaveo]

It's a damn shame that a WW2 Vet had to be killed by two thugs.

I hope those two teens get life in prison.

Rest in peace Shorty.

[Avenio]

Using pictures of the wrong Trayvon Martin in an attempt to slander and race-bait, OP?

Classy. Very classy, OP. I'm sure your veteran friend would be very proud of you for being so dishonest about the events leading up to his death.

[Third Mexican Empire]

Its a shame this man died

Its a bigger shame people try to use his death as a weapon against what they see as a racism "doublestandard"(which is largely imaginary)

[Gylias]

It's a damn shame that a WW2 Vet had to be killed by two thugs.

Robbers, actually, but I guess it's okay to call them "thugs" just because they happen to be black, right?

[Gaveo]

It's a damn shame that a WW2 Vet had to be killed by two thugs.

Robbers, actually, but I guess it's okay to call them "thugs" just because they happen to be black, right?

Wow, nice use of the race card. :roll:

I will call anyone thugs if they attack people, especially vets. Regardless of their race.

Highlighting the last part for ya.

[Gylias]

Wow, nice use of the race card.

Yeah, it's not like "thugs" has been used so much as a thinly-veiled slur it's basically a dog-whistle word by now.

I will call anyone thugs if they attack people, especially vets. Regardless of their race.

You're giving them too much credit by calling them thugs.

[Mewsland]

Its a shame this man died

Its a bigger shame people try to use his death as a weapon against what they see as a racism "doublestandard"(which is largely imaginary)

This double standard you claim is "largely imaginary" is self-evident once you take a hard look at it. People are comparing a case which may have racial connotations (though I highly doubt) to one that's been agreed by everyone directly involved and their dog isn't, and it's creating a double standard.

Avenio: If that is the wrong Trayvon Martin ( and Snopes is not exactly a resource I rely on or trust ), then I will take that up with the creator of the image linked in the thread. On the bigger issue, though, you totally ripped it right out of context, not to mention ignored the entire rest of the post.

[Surfistan]

So very sad.

[Frisivisia]

Old guy dies a few weeks before he would have died anyway due to being really fucking old, that's pretty bad, and RUHVERS RASISUM ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!