Offended by the use of 'Geronimo' as codename

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

IcePickFreak

Platinum Member
Jul 12, 2007
2,428
9
81
:rolleyes: You can't sneeze anymore with offending some person or group.

Or at least not kill a bunch of em, take their land, then reference their leader who fought to keep their land with a guy who over 100 years later kills a bunch of civilians. :awe:

Kidding actually, I'm pretty sure Geronimo wasn't even his native american name and was was what initially the mexican soldiers called him which is where US soldiers got it from as they both were after him. Guessing they used it here since they hunted Geronimo for a couple decades.
 

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
2,355
75
91
meettomy.site
What if they named it Jesus instead and then started making fun 'Jesus is dead', 'Jesus is dead'. Do you think there would be anyone complaining? There are so many other words that could be used for a 'code name'.
 

seepy83

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2003
2,132
3
71
I'm not going to take the time to look for all of the articles, but I've seen the press report that "Geronimo" was the code for 3 different things. One article reported that it was the name for the mission, another reported that it was the name for Osama, and a third reported that it was the word used to confirm that Osama was either killed or captured.

Regardless of what exactly the word meant, it's disgusting that people could get offended by a codeword/codename. They could have called him The Easter Bunny, Apple Juice, King Cobra, or Glory Hole...it's just a name and it shouldn't matter to anyone.
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
What if they named it Jesus instead and then started making fun 'Jesus is dead', 'Jesus is dead'. Do you think there would be anyone complaining? There are so many other words that could be used for a 'code name'.

You guys need to quit comparing the Geronimo name to other names that are WAY above them in our society. If you're going to try to make an example, at least make it realistic.
 

Chryso

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2004
4,039
13
81
Everybody is looking for something to be offended by these days.
Dammit Mosh, your use of the word "offensive" offends me.
 

seepy83

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2003
2,132
3
71
Someone needs to send the Onondaga Nation leaders back to kindergarten. They were obviously out sick the day that the class reviewed "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me."
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,197
6,067
126
This is the key. It wasn't the name of the mission, it was the code name for a terrorist.

and who fucking gives a shit? they can call him whatever the fuck they want, this stupid group crying about this was not involved in the mission at all. they need to fuck off.
 

jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
"Guys, Geronimo was the name of the OPERATION, not bin Laden himself. In the rush to report the story, a bunch of idiots on twitter and blogs misreported the transmission as "Geronimo is KIA" or even "We've IDed Geronimo." They just obviously misunderstood and garbled up the code– the message was actually "Geronimo-E KIA," where "Geronimo" identifies the operation, "E" stands for "enemy," and "KIA" is short for "Killed in Action."

Do you have a quote of the actual radio transmission then?
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,978
30,318
136
Geronimo gave a interview where he talked about how he would grab infants out of their beds, toss them in the air, and catch them on his knife. He wasn't exactly a sweet prince himself.
 

Nemesis 1

Lifer
Dec 30, 2006
11,366
2
0
It really doesn't matter what code name is used . But in this case another American Indian chiefs name fits better this reported killing of obl and the US reporting of his recent death . Sitting BULL as in cough BS.
 

HOOfan 1

Platinum Member
Sep 2, 2007
2,337
15
81
Geronimo was Saint Jerome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Jerome

The American Indian leader got his name during a battle with Mexican soldiers, as they were beign killed, the soldiers cried out the name of Siant Jerome (Geronimo).

So his nickname came from that of a Christian Saint.
 

Paladin3

Diamond Member
Mar 5, 2004
4,933
878
126
Charlie / Tango are typically code names for bad guys.

Yes, the are. My point was that Charlie is generic. Other than maybe the Viet Cong or Charlie Sheen (lol) you don't associate the name with a specific person. When you say Geronimo we all know exactly the individual we are talking about.

The fact that Geronimo is not considered a hero by most (all?) on this forum does not diminish the fact that he is a hero to the Native American community. Common decency would dictate that we not use the name of a NA hero to refer directly to OBL, which it sounds like we didn't even do from what I've read.

I do agree the Onondaga Nation is playing the victim card a bit too hard, though. They are grasping at straws and we've all heard it so much now that I believe it actually diminishes most peoples opinion of Native Americans.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,197
6,067
126
Yes, the are. My point was that Charlie is generic. Other than maybe the Viet Cong or Charlie Sheen (lol) you don't associate the name with a specific person. When you say Geronimo we all know exactly the individual we are talking about.

The fact that Geronimo is not considered a hero by most (all?) on this forum does not diminish the fact that he is a hero to the Native American community. Common decency would dictate that we not use the name of a NA hero to refer directly to OBL, which it sounds like we didn't even do from what I've read.

I do agree the Onondaga Nation is playing the victim card a bit too hard, though. They are grasping at straws and we've all heard it so much now that I believe it actually diminishes most peoples opinion of Native Americans.

i am nearly 30 years old and had no clue Geronimo was even a person, but I always said the term as a kid when throwing water balloons really far, jumping out of a tree, or when dropping stuff from a tall height. i would yell it like 'geerrrrrrrrooooooonnnnnnniimmoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo'

oh man i hope people don't start complaining abuot me saying that!
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
22
81
wtf is up with the indians these days?

first they get mad about their land being taken, then they cry about the land being polluted, they bitch about the washington redskins and now this?

nuke'em
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,883
4,997
126
Who gives a crap? It was a code name. I'm sorry, but I don't expect elite special forces to clear all mission code names through a PC clearinghouse prior to undertaking a mission.

As I understand it the code name for Ayman al-Zawahiri is "Peyton"
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,883
4,997
126
As for the OP, I do find it kinda "wrong" they'd use that name to ID OBL.
I'm not one for being all "PC" and such, but it was in poor taste. Not that anyone should be really concerned with such things during such an important and historic mission planning.

Best case is say "yeah, sorry about that" and everyone move on.