Native Americans offended by code name ‘Geronimo’
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WASHINGTON — Native American leaders in the United States expressed outrage Wednesday that the name of legendary Apache warrior Geronimo was used as a military code name during the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
“To associate a native warrior with Bin Laden is not an accurate reflection of history, and it undermines the military service of native people,” said a statement by Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
Geronimo, an Apache chief who lived from 1829 to 1909, was a famed warrior who fought in what is now the US state of New Mexico, battling US and Mexican authorities as the American West was being settled.
Keel said using the name of Geronimo during the US special forces operation against bin Laden in Pakistan was an affront to Native Americans because it linked them to one of the most reviled enemies of the United States..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110506com3.html
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