It's actually not complicated

I turn 64 this month. This column is a gift to myself.

Often when I ask someone a difficult question, the answer I get is, “It’s complicated.”

What does that mean?

Outside the realm of academic inquiry, life is quite simple. Each of us has unique talents to develop, and the effort to use our gifts for the betterment of humanity brings us happiness. The more privilege we are given, the fewer obstacles we face in this endeavor, and thus the greater our responsibility.

There are also certain principles to follow. Every person is equal, and everyone is deserving of respect. Every child has unbelievable potential, and it is the responsibility of all adults to nurture these young humans, no matter where they live in the world.

I’ve been here for 64 years, and I’ve had the good fortune to interact with more people than I can count on four different continents. These principles are true and pursuing them without compromise has allowed me to live an extremely happy life.

When I confront people about why there are wars, why we don’t prioritize the lives of children in Palestine or Congo, why we don’t make true reparations with the Indigenous peoples of Canada, or why we don’t prioritize the environment above short-term financial gain, I am told, “It’s complicated. You need to understand that things are more complex than you think.”

I’ve reflected on this answer, and I’ve realized that it’s simply not true. The reason why things appear complex is because the priorities I’ve outlined above are being compromised. The person who sees the situation as “complicated” is generally looking for justification to violate the sacred principles of life, and this is not surprising.

We live in a world where narcissistic ideals are valued, which explains why Donald Trump is arguably the most powerful person on the planet. Narcissists do not have boundaries, they do not recognize the equal rights of other people, let alone helpless children. They also assume that other people see the world the same way they do.

It appears that most people in the developed world do not recognize the dysfunction of the narcissistic mindset, so they play along. Perhaps this explains why so many people are unhappy.

There is simply no way to justify sacrificing the well-being of a child for financial gain. One cannot justify the death of a child in the pursuit of more territory. “It’s complicated” means, “I know on some level that what I am doing or supporting is wrong, I am unwilling to risk my privilege in trying to do the right thing, and I am uncomfortable addressing that.”

Another uncomfortable aspect of being human is the inevitability of making mistakes. Contrary to what Donald Trump may say, it is healthy to admit when we are wrong. For a good person, it is often difficult to face the consequences of our errors, but in trying to do so we can hopefully find peace.

When I was younger, I was often intimidated by people who told me that I was idealistic and did not understand the way the world works. I’ve been around the block a few times, and I remember when much of the “history” we study was “current events.” During the Oka Crisis of 1990, for example, I knew that it was wrong for the town of Oka, Quebec to take Mohawk land to build a golf course. The Canadian military was called upon to lay siege to two Mohawk villages so that land developers could have their way. I volunteered to sit by the side of a country road and observe troop movements. It wasn’t complicated, it was just the right thing to do, and the golf course was never built.

Life is not complicated. Use the gifts you have been given to try to make the world better for everyone and everything, and accept responsibility when you mess up.

That is the key to happiness.