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What do you guys think about him? Was he an insane traitor, or was he an honourable hero?

   

What he did for this country makes him, IMO, an honorable hero.

   

Mmm another shit storm thread yet historical. Cant resist. Before I answer, I will spray some anti-separatist spray to prevent them from coming in here. *spraaaay* There. To answer one must look at the 2 different groups, ROC, and the Metis. I think Riel was delusional and a whack job but I dont consider him a hero, just misguided. A traitor...no. Besides killing an innocent person, he was sticking up for his peoples beliefs and he lost in the end. But without him, Manitoba may never have been created. The ROC viewed him as a traitor for trying to parcel out what was then Prince Ruperts land, as well as killing an English Canadian. I guess by them he was a traitor.

   

despite delusions of grandure, he was a great man. He fought for his people and what he believed in. He stood up for his people's rights and helped make Canada what it is today.

   

In a word, both.

   

Interesting, what makes you say that?

   

A hero, because he was fighting for his people against a racist government.

A nut, because, if you look at some of writings, he had some odd ideas. One I remember was that he wanted the Vatican moved to Saskatchewan and later he started calling himself Louis "David" Riel, prophet of the new world.

   

Everyone should have that spray. Where did you buy it ?

   

Well, seems to be working so far, lets hope for the best. Its my own personal invention, if your nice, I might let you have 10% stake in my new business.

   

He wanted to start a new Catholic centre in Manitoba. He even believed that he could make it so that the Pope would leave Rome to live there.

   

I agree with this. Without a doubt the guy was a nut but that doesn't make him an unsympathetic figure...

   

archives from cbc about louis riel... i you are interested.

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-1482/po ... ouis_riel/

   

"So what I told you was true, from a certain point of view." -- Obi Wan Kenobi.

If I were metis or possible from manitoba I would probably consider him a hero. Anyone who thinks they are a prophet maybe as nutty as a fruitcake and still be a hero. Optinums link does provide with some very good history. I must admit to not remembering a whole lot about riel from all the history classes I slept through anyway. Time changes things. Look at "deepthroat". Many now say he's a hero where before he was considered a criminal. The democrats probably consider him a hero and republicans a criminal, generally speaking of course.

   

Im sorry, I cant consider a nut or someone partially insane or claims to recieve visions from god a certified hero. This isnt Don Quixote insanity heroism, its illicit responses from the brain percieving these so called messages from god. Sure he may be a hero from a stand point view, he faught the Canadian army, pretty well at that, but murdering innocent people isnt my idea of a hero ever. Would superman still be your hero if he murdered an innocent(s)? Doubt it. I dont percieve him a traitor in the case of actually doing harm to the country of Canada, and he did help create the province of Manitoba, but other than that, hes just another figure in history, he did his part, nuff said.

   

Agreed! He isn't a hero of mine. I think you've probably read enough of my posts to know what I think about god and people who believe in god let alone those who THINK god is sending them messages in their alphabets to know what I think. The point is that some will consider him a hero. The US named a modern class of frigates after Oliver Hazard Perry who was a US naval officer in 1812. We would consider him an "enemy combatant" who's military attacked us without warning or justification. You are a "master debator" in your own right so you can certainly see how we can consider him to be nothing more then a traitor and criminal and yet others consider him a hero and even a founding father! Take the seperatists. Traitors or Heros is entirely dependant on where you sit (or live).

   

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