Guest Column
Skull & Bones allegedly has the Skull of Geronimo on its secret mantle
By Joe Olvera’
Now comes this harrowing story of desecration, grave robbing, diabolical racism, witchcraft, and other atrocities that were committed by none other than students at Yale University in 1918, including one Prescott Bush – the grandfather of our current President. The accusations against Skull & Bones - a secret society founded in 1832 at the storied school – are that this fun-loving group of Anglo men stole the head of Geronimo, one of this nation’s greatest Apache leaders and, in fact, is the Skull in the Skull & Bones Society.
Apache leaders across the U.S. are calling for the return of said skull so that Geronimo can be buried once again, and his peace and tranquility restored. Sometimes these types of activities take on lives of their own. Even though I find it hard to believe that such an atrocity was committed against a great leader, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if it turned out to be true. Anglo men committed even worse atrocities against Indians.
Working to resolve the issue, American Indians in general are petitioning Congress to investigate the elite Skull & Bones group at Yale to determine if, indeed, such a desecration occurred. Indian leaders are saying, of course it’s true. This same Skull & Bones Society has as members some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful leaders, including past President George Herbert Walker Bush, current President George W. Bush, and former Presidential contender John Kerry.
“Using acid and amid laughter, they stripped Geronimo’s head of hair and flesh. They then took their ‘trophies’ back to Yale University and put them on display in the clubhouse of the secret fraternity ‘Skull & Bones,’” states the petition. American Indians are hoping to pressure Congress to look into this horrid and unbelievable desecration of a human body.
But, is it true? Well, according to Raleigh Thompson, who served as San Carlos Apache tribal councilman for 16 years, told Indian Country Today that he was among the Apache tribal leaders with whom Skull & Bones officials met in New York in a series of meetings beginning in 1986. According to Thompson, society members admitted that, yes that Skull does belong to Geronimo and they have it. Well, the Indians want it back.
“Geronimo left his rifle and peace pipe here when they took him away,” Thompson said. “When Geronimo was taken from this land, he wanted to come back and be buried on San Carlos in the Triplet Mountains.” Thompson said that Prescott Bush – the President’s grandfather – was among a group of six Army soldiers who dug up Geronimo’s remains at Fort Sill, Okla., in 1918. The San Carlos Apache Tribe received a copy of a logbook describing the grave-robbing and a photograph of a skull on display before meeting with the board in New York.
But, is it true? You know, judging by the harsh and racist ways in which Native Americans have been treated since time immemorial, it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Yes, it could be true. But, we really won’t know until an investigation is conducted. Thus, I would encourage President Bush to look into the issue. If it’s not true, then he can clear his grandpa’s name. However, if it is true, then he can sit back and smirk that boys will be boys. We’ll know that the good old boys network is alive and well in world politics. But, yes, we want Geronimo’s Skull returned, y deavolada. Ya basta!
Sin Fin
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