If someone feels the need to seek counseling over this then I’m afraid they probably have bigger issues to worry about.

DETROIT — A local Native American organization is offering counseling to anyone who feels offended or hurt by the use of “Geronimo” as code name for the recent U.S. operation that killed Osama Bin Laden.

“Geronimo EKIA” (enemy killed in action) was the message that U.S. Navy SEALS sent to Washington officials last week to let them know bin Laden was dead.

But the code name upset many Native Americans since Geronimo is the name of a Native American warrior who many consider a hero, while bin Laden was behind the al-Qaida terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, that killed nearly 3,000 people.

“Geronimo’s name shouldn’t be used in a context like that,” Nickole Fox said Monday. Fox is director of health education at American Indian Health and Family Services, which is offering the service.

“He’s a hero among a lot of Native (American) people. It’s disrespectful to use his name like that.”

After “Geronimo” was revealed as the code name for the operation, Native Americans across the country expressed opposition. Some people changed their Facebook page picture to honor the Apache leader, while others called for a public apology from President Barack Obama.

The American Indian Health and Family Services in Detroit is asking anyone concerned about the continued use of Native American heroes in a negative context to come in.