The Nature of Man

It’s almost always sunny in Philadelphia, but this Saturday afternoon was overcast with a cool, comfortable breeze.  Garret and Joseph walked down Poplar Street toward 2nd.

“What’s this place?” Joseph asked.  He pointed to a series of outdoor, tent covered tables and a food cart.

“Don’t know, looks like that old late night hot dog stand.”

“Let’s check it out, I’m hungry.”

They discovered La Copine Brunch Cart, ordered breakfast sandwiches and flatbread, and sat along a wooden fence.

“How can you argue with me about this?  I have thousands of years of evidence on my side,” Garret insisted, stubborn as usual.

“But there’s one key point you seem to overlook.”

“What point?  In all of recorded history you have war.  The fall of Babylon, the Greek and Roman Empires, the Crusades, etcetera etcetera.  India versus Pakistan, Iran versus Iraq . . . terrorism!  The IRA, the ETA, al qaeda . . . the list goes on and on.  How can you argue?”

“I don’t have to argue.”

“Of course you don’t, and you shouldn’t because it’s pointless.  The nature of man is evil.  We’re a bellicose species.”

Near their table, a little girl perhaps two years old ran in circles, laughing aloud, chasing after nothing at all as her parents ate brunch and laughed too.

Joseph nodded in their direction, indicating to Garret that he should notice the little girl if he hadn’t already.  “You think she’s got an evil nature, Garret?”

“The kid?  No.”

“Right.  Not sure how we get into all these wars or become terrorists, but people aren't just born evil.  Look at a child and you know.  Circumstances affect us and choices are made, but there's nothing absolute about our nature.”

Garret didn’t respond, he just took another bite of his sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, a silent concession.