What's with the Jesus skywriting?

[4greatboys]

I dont understand the big deal about. So what if you see it and you dont believe in Jesus or are not Christian. Its not going to make you into one. Its okay to see things that you dont particularly believe in. It wouldnt bother me a bit to see something written about another religion. I realize that there other other religions out there and Im not offended by them. I dont know people cannot see something or hear simply because they dont subscribe to that particular belief
Could be why there is so much stife out in the world today. Tolerance has gone by the wayside.

 

[robinb]

I would never have pinned this "Holy Smoke" man to be trying to purposefully upset others with his message. I would have thought just the opposite. So I checked out the site and I think it would be impossible for either you or I to know his true motivation. Heck, you might be totally right. Or you could be completely wrong.

I don't think he sets out to upset anyone. I think his hubris on his religion and his God is so great that he feels it is his mission to proselytize over Walt Disney World. He doesn't care that I don't like or agree with his message ... as a matter of fact it is people like me that the message is for! I feel targeted by him and his message and I don't like it any more than I like people who come to my door to tell me about their God.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I haven't read a joy or tittle of this thread. Frankly thought the subject got shut down last week. Anyhow, I am still going forward with my plans to write "Stitch Loves You" across the glorious Florida sky.

 

[Lorelai]

Crazy Yankees
just kiddin'

Ned....Let's take Remus with us. We need some South in this North Eastern hand shake.

 

[jamimb]

I dont understand at all how the messages in the sky could be offensive. I dont believe in Bigfoot and if "Bigfoot loves you" was written in the sky it would not bother me in the least. How could a message of love ever offend. I cant image how Jesus as a person could ever offend anybody I mean what has Jesus ever done for you (except maybe dying for you) as far as the argument that the money could be better spent on the homeless and such just exactly how much money do you spend at Disney a yr? Could that money go to a better use. This man does this out of love for his God and others so just leave the poor guy alone!

 

[ChrisK]

The mention of Jesus' name was offensive and abrasive 2000 years ago, so much He was killed! Nothing new! His name will always divide, it is like a double edged sword and here is the proof! One side is right, one is wrong!

Just because 2 sides don't agree doesn't make one right and the other wrong.

 

[Joyce Kingkade]

One day the words of the skywriter will come back to some of you. You will then realize the skywriter cared enough to tell you about his Jesus. You will not stand before God and say, "I never heard about your Son, no one shared this news with me!"

 

[orljustin]

... and that is exactly why none of us want to hear from any "we know better than you" zealots.

Thanks for proving the points in the various posts.

 

[phillybeth]

One day the words of the skywriter will come back to some of you. You will then realize the skywriter cared enough to tell you about his Jesus. You will not stand before God and say, "I never heard about your Son, no one shared this news with me!"

I doubt any person in the country, christian, jewish, muslim, pagan or other, has not heard of jesus.

I don't care what it says- Jesus love you, praise Allah, Goddess bless, whatever. I don't want it in the sky. It is graffiti and pollution, not a message of peace and love.

 

[macraven]

in all the times i have been in the motherland, i have never looked up in the sky to check out what you all are posting about.

the sun has been too bright for me.

i walk around looking down at the ground most of the time .....

it's a good thing i read the dis posts.
i was there and never knew a thing about sky king.

 

[willis37862]

One day the words of the skywriter will come back to some of you. You will then realize the skywriter cared enough to tell you about his Jesus. You will not stand before God and say, "I never heard about your Son, no one shared this news with me!"

 

[MagneticxBoy]

HA! On August 20th in Magic Kingdom we also saw "Turn To Jesus" in the sky... haha

It did offend me however and it was the last thing I wanted to see while on my last day on vacation at DW.. but it wasn't that big of deal...

 

[Von Drake]

Such a polarized thread...

I would like to add a little food for thought:

1. I noticed that everyone refers to the mystery pilot in the masculine.

Why is it assumed that the pilot is a male?

2. The position of the skywriter does not necessarily target WDW guests.

Does anyone remember the First Amendment? Whoever is flying that plane is entitled to express his or her opinion. It is your choice to note it, process it, and decide FOR YOURSELF its relevance. Take his or her 'voice' away, and you erode your own right to free speech.

3. What makes a message written in this medium so 'important' ? It is as fleeting as a billboard flying by at 70 MPH.

If you don't want to stay at Days Inn, or eat at the nearest Burger King, or see Pedro's new inventory, then ignore it.

4. If the skywriter brings one person closer to a personal faith, then what's wrong with that? It beats violence, doesn't it?

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Such a polarized thread...

I would like to add a little food for thought:

1. I noticed that everyone refers to the mystery pilot in the masculine.

Why is it assumed that the pilot is a male?

Uh, because he is. Go to his website. It's listed earlier in this thread. I refuse to put it here again and give him more publicity.

2. The position of the skywriter does not necessarily target WDW guests.

I'll disagree. You don't see him doing it over the panhandle, or other parts of FL. He does it a couple of miles from a tourist destination.

3. What makes a message written in this medium so 'important' ? It is as fleeting as a billboard flying by at 70 MPH.

Because writing something in the sky is about as extreme as it can get.

Like I said, I don't care if it's about Jesus or some sports team - it's still offensive.

4. If the skywriter brings one person closer to a personal faith, then what's wrong with that? It beats violence, doesn't it?

Violence? Is that the other option?

Is bringing "one person closer to personal faith" worth offending and ruining the magic for others? I really think not.

As I've maintained throughout this thread, and none of the people that are pro-skywriter have been able to answer, is that if your faith is so strong in this story of Jesus, then why do you need to see it written across the sky to "bring you closer to faith"?

That's the crux of this issue : people who TRULY believe shouldn't need a crass reminder, and those who DON'T believe don't want to have to look at it in the sky.

Look, it's clear he's not breaking any laws. Florida is funny in that way - in many other places skywriting is simply illegal. So no, nothing can be done, people are right.

However, I can still be offended by it. Many legal things are offensive.

I think this man is incredibly selfish to spend his time and resources trying to hurt people - his website is nothing but a front for "conversion", and people like him don't understand what Christianity is. It's not supposed to be something you push on people, it's supposed to be about helping your fellow man and being a good person. It's not about being crass with the Lord's name.

I know a lot of traditionalists that would be VERY offended someone would use such a crass method to praise the Lord. It's just tacky.

Be a Christian. It's your right to believe in whatever you want. Even if you told me you want to believe in Narnia or Hogworts as you religion, I donm't care. However, having to look at graffiti in any form, especially that of religious propoganda, is NOT enhancing my Disney experience.

Are a few people who are already "saved" being brought "closer to their faith" worth making so many people uncomfortable, offended, or just plain distracted from the magic at hand?

NED

 

[rie'smom]

Is thi what it looks like?

 

[BurkeTribe]

I am quoting Ember's post from the other thread because I think she said it best
---------------------------------------------------
"If you are going to defend this action under freedom of speech or even tolerance and accpetance of other people's beliefs then you have to accpet it in ANY form it may take. This includes sky writing messages you may not agree with or find offensive. If you draw the line at something you agree with as being okay but deny the same right to others then you are being hypocritical and unjust. So messages such that include other religions, potical opinions, advertising, or any thing else for that matter must also be fully accepted and tolerated under this view.

What if those messages read: "Jesus is a lie," "Give gays rights," or "Eat McDonalds." Would these messages also be alright? Or would the same people defending the right to sky write Christan messages take issue with them? If it can honestly be said that no matter what the message was it would be tolerated and accepted then I will take that as a strongly supported opinion.

I disagree with the "nutjob's" skywriting because there are many things I don't want written above my head, particularly while I'm on vacation. Agreeing or disagreeing with what he actually wrote is not the issue in my mind."

------------------------


I agree with her. Forget that the message is religious, that just leads to endless post wars that change no minds. Imagine that the skywriting just says "Drink Coke". Aren't we inundated enough in life by advertisements without having sky graffiti take away the natural view? Where will it end? For example, what if five messages are made at once over WDW ("EAT AT MCDS", "Drink Coke", "GO BRAVES", "FOXNEWS", "TOSHIBA")? Then ten the next week? Then fifteen the next? Who owns the sky, advertisers or We the People?

It's not really a Freedom of Speech issue or a religious issue, it's a use of public property (the sky) issue. I personally think it should be outlawed. If you don't agree with banning it, where do you draw the line? What about if someone starts taking blue powdered chalk and stamping ads ("Use Tide") on the sand of beaches across America... is that okay? What about spraying the words "Go Cardinals" in the grass of Central Park with a harmless dye that will wash away with the next rain? Where do we draw the line on advertising methods on publically owned property and spaces?

 

[rie'smom]

You do know that smoke man or skywriter or whoever he is does have rights and what he is doing is legal and he doesn't give a rat's a_ _ what anyone here,includung me, think?
It's pretty amusing that some of the "liberals" on the boards and( you know who you are),are whining about this guy's skywriting but have a cow about perceived injustices or violations of rights in other threads. Apparently anything goes except when it comes to Christianity or Jesus.
Y'all sound as open minded as Rush Limbaugh.

 

[Snow_White]

My husband and I were wondering what was up with the skywriting when we were at WDW too (we just got back recently). We thought it was quite bizarre and out of place.....I like being in a bubble when I'm at WDW; I hate it when the outside world creeps in. I don't care if he writes about Jesus or Allah or something "adult" or website ads.....I just wish Disney could put a stop to it.

 

[DanceRC28]

DH and I have seen him at least two or three times on different trips, different years. Guess this guy has nothing better to do than fly around writing messages about jesus!?!?!

 

[bgirldeb]

One day the words of the skywriter will come back to some of you. You will then realize the skywriter cared enough to tell you about his Jesus. You will not stand before God and say, "I never heard about your Son, no one shared this news with me!"

What news did the skywriter share? "Turn to Jesus" ? It's not like he provided any valid reason to. Or, should non-believers have an epiphany after seeing some goofball skywriting over Disney World? My feeling is that the people that like the message already have "turned to jesus" and all it does to others is turn them more against Christianity because of tacky and wacky things like this.