During my time in St james I have spent some 6 years of it slagging
off the SES.It was more out of a childish hatred of something i found
alien, than particular grievances with the organisation. I had
discussed with other people the ill-sounding rumours about the SES in
its early years that it is naturally not very keen to reveal, but iit
never affected me particularly so I took little heed of the SES.
Recently, on being asked if I would like to join the SES at
16, i refused the offer. This was not borne from childish cynicism
nor because I thought the SES wasnt cool. In fact it was because I
felt the SES could offer me nothing. Joining would require me giving
up or reducing activities important to me, so I decided very quickly
that there was no benefit whatsoever in joining. I was however told
by one teacher, that he was 'DISAPPOINTED IN ME FOR NOT JOINING' the
SES, but other than this I have found little in the way of being
pressurized to join.
Instead I find the SES humerous not damaging to me. I find
the fact that Mr Lambie's chair is carried around for him funny.I
find the fact that Mr Lambie eats apart from the rest of the school
mostly, particularly hilarious in a school where everyone is equal. I
find the fact that various members of the SES look no more
spiritually enlightened affter a year or 2 there than they did
before, funny. I will also tell you what i find most funny. I was
told by Mr kettle when he was recruiting new members, that in the SES
you endeavoured to discover your purpose in life and found direction.
This is my real gripe with the SES. WHY SHOULD A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO
READ SANSKRIT PRAYERS AND MEDITATE BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE OR
ENLIGHTENED THAN ME? Mr Lambie says that people in the SES are more
knowledgeable. I FEEL THAT WHATEVER THE USES OF DISCOVERING YOUR
PURPOSE IN LIFE,YOU WOULD GET A LOT MORE OUT OF ACTUALLY LIVING LIFE
THAN SITTING IN CIRCLES TALKING ABOUT IT. The way I see it is that a
person who has no spiritual influences and does what feels right in
their heart, cares for others and what have you, will end up a far
better person than one who can recite sanskrit verses and might
happen to belong to the SES.
Until the SES offers me something I want or need I cannot
bring myself to condone it or its stance on issues such as women's
roles in society (which I find outdated but extremely funny, and
would consider joining just to bask in a wave of female-approved
chauvanism). I do however, oppose the SES purely on the grounds that
its "wierd" or "boring", for these arguements make SES opponents look
pathetically foolish. I also must thank the SES for something. I
believe that listening to SES views that I found pointless or plain
wrong, I found a certain strength in myself,which has changed my
character for the better. I stand up for myself better, and while I
attempt to remain open-minded, I do not accept things at face value.
For this contraversial streak in my being, I cannot thank the SES
enough, since they have moulded me into a far stronger character than
I ever was before.
To any SES members, consider whether you need the SES more
than it needs you. If within your heart you can say yes, then it is
probably right for you, but if you stay because friends are in it or
any similarly shallow motives (like to look good in front of SES
teachers) you should leave soon.