Natural Selection says "...missed it by that much!"

Photo by Mike Brown / The Commercial Appeal

Ashley Byrne, a Washington, D.C.-based campaign coordinator with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), talks with Memphis police officers during a recent demonstration outside City Hall that coincided with World Vegetarian Week. When officers inquired about the well-being of intern Shawn Herbold (bottom) and volunteer Thomas Olsen, a sweat-soaked Herbold replied that she was in pain and feeling nauseated from the heat after being wrapped in cellophane for 30 minutes, and also asked how much longer she needed to stay there. Byrne let her know it wouldn't be much longer and left her under the hot afternoon sun for 30 minutes more while debating with the officers. PETA would never treat a cow that way, but I guess it's OK for an intern. Many organizations that focus on extremes could take note that leading through example makes more impact than demonstrating with hypocrisy. "1,000 Words" is a weekly pictorial commentary on events in Greater Memphis and around the world. Today's "1,000 Words" was written by Mike Brown, a photographer for The Commercial Appeal.

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risking another human being in the tiny offhand chance of convincing someone to go vegetarian and thereby saving a cow is one kind of stupid but risking your own life because some irresponsible peta tool told you to is another kind of stupid.

Besides any fool knows not to leave meat sitting out in the sun. But peta isn't any fool.