"Etc." Gets a Workout

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Imagine the first policy steps when the Peace Party begins its administration…

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One, Friend of Mine,

In a sense, all you want of us is that we be your friends. You provide a fantastic world in which to live. You provide enough for our physical needs. You give us marvelous brains for learning and for exploring our world. You share the mystery of love and community. You infuse and envelope us in your spirit self. From your self, you even offered one who could represent and present your nature/character in a fullness otherwise unmatched. All of this, it would appear, so we would acknowledge you and claim you as our friend. Amazing, the lengths to which you go. Amazing, too, how dense we humans can be. Nevertheless, I want to be your friend, too.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Verily I say to you, I can take it with me.”

[You won’t find this in the gospels, because He never said it.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week

“Orgy”

[Another offering from the Online Etymology Dictionary, with a wonderful climax – to the description of course.]

1561, orgies (pl.) "secret rites in the worship of certain Gk. and Roman gods," especially Dionysus, from M.Fr. orgies (c.1500), from L. orgia, from Gk. orgia (pl.) "secret rites," from PIE base *werg- "to work" (see urge (v.)). The singular, orgy, was first used in Eng. 1665 for the extended sense of "any licentious revelry." OED says of the ancient rites that they were "celebrated with extravagant dancing, singing, drinking, etc.," which gives "etc." quite a workout.