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Joe Flach
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I WAS ME


First I was me,

Selfish as can be,

Wanting everything from A to Z

And wanting it all for me.


Then I became we,

A part of an us.

I learned to share, give and take

I learned how to trust.


Next I was you,

Believe me it's true.

I would rather give than receive,

It was you I wanted to please.


Now I am them,

A family man.

Giving my children,

All that I can.


If you look real close,

It is easy to see,

I am older and wiser,

And no longer a me.





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Taking a Stand

Blog Posted by Joe Flach: 3/4/2014 10:46:00 AM
I'm sorry, but I just read a poem this morning that compelled me to blog-post a poem that I wrote a few years back.  If I believe what I say in this poem, then it is important for me to draw it to your attention given what I just read.  I respect the other's point of view, but just felt the need to post mine as well.

Taking a Stand


If you were taught that something was bad,

Sinful and evil and terribly mad;

And then found out that that’s what you were -

How would you feel, if that did occur?


If you were taught that a lifestyle was wrong,

And people who lived it weren’t morally strong;

And then realized it was what you preferred -

How would you cope, if that did occur?


Sexual preferences are programmed inside;

It is nature, not nurture - and nothing to hide.

It’s been that way for millions of years,

Though repressed by many through intimidation and fear.


If you are homophobic, I just wish to say

There are some in your circles who are unknowingly gay

They just won’t admit it, because of the way you’ll react

But they are who they are – and you won’t change that fact


It could be your son or your brother; a friend or a boss

But they know if you knew, your respect would be lost

They don’t fit your stereotype so you never will know

And due to your ignorance and hatred they’ll never tell you so


Wouldn’t it be great if each of us could set an example

And this fear of homosexuality we could stomp on and trample

I, myself, am not a homosexual man

But for my brethren who are – I will take a stand



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Date: 3/6/2014 3:16:00 PM
Beautifully written Joe... I enjoyed my visit :)s... Verlena
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Date: 3/5/2014 7:17:00 AM
Like Richard, I have a life-long male friend and a female friend I have known for several years who are both gay. After you become good friends with someone, their sexuality, race, gender etc. disappears and they become simply 'Joe' or 'Sue' or whatever...Great poem, great blog Joe! - Tim
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Date: 3/4/2014 6:06:00 PM
My best friend of over fifty years is gay, every now and then he tells me he loves me, I reply 'Still', but hey, who can blame him, haha. Great blog Joe and poem. Take care, Richard
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Skat A
Date: 3/4/2014 8:42:00 PM
ha-ha :)
Date: 3/4/2014 5:02:00 PM
I have a handsome cousin who had the most beautiful women on his side,but awhile ago he told us He was gay,He likes and loves guys..He tried to love women to go with the stereotype society,but this is who He is.For me it made no difference.If he is happy I am happy.I was raised with strong catholic believes,but nature is nature ,and one can t go living all his life in a lie and rejects who he is cause of others who are homophobics..So though I am hundred percent straight..I take a stand with you for every human being.Jesus loves all for who We are and not who We have to pretend to be
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Charmaine Chircop
Date: 3/6/2014 12:43:00 AM
Actually its thinking or believing differently...Though maybe not so differently : p Smiles...and Your old habit of yours doesnt bug me at allB-)..
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Charmaine Chircop
Date: 3/6/2014 12:33:00 AM
Its nice being different I guess..We wouldn't get bored : p
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Charmaine Chircop
Date: 3/5/2014 1:17:00 AM
Hope i shattered it a bit more nw :p big smile
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Charmaine Chircop
Date: 3/5/2014 1:15:00 AM
Hi dear Chris..I'm sure there are plenty of mean bullshitters in the catholic world I was raised in..but believe me,there are others who are loving,and are paying a great deal for evilness those bullshitters spread...Or maybe if not bullshitters,one can be kind and call them extrimists.But I guess that is in every religion.I do undertsand you dear Chris..and the more I get to know you,the more I learn to understand how you feel,nd I don t blame you..but I apologize in their name any catholics caused you a great deal of pain...
Chircop Avatar
Charmaine Chircop
Date: 3/4/2014 5:28:00 PM
Yes..I think minding our own business would solve many problems in life..and believing We re nothing better than the others help a great deal..Im with you on all that you stated.
Flach Avatar
Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 5:06:00 PM
Nicely put Charmaine. I have a hard enough time being the person I am, imagine how hard it would be having to pretend to be someone you are not --- if that makes any sense.
Date: 3/4/2014 4:44:00 PM
Well, that is the statistic given in books that I have read on the topic, and it occurs in every culture and is too suppressed in some cultures to be realized how high the statistic is. I mean, it is even found in the animal kingdom!! Ive heard it said "It's not natural." So how do you explain it in nature?
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/4/2014 5:22:00 PM
I think there is a also a group of people who truly "love the sinner" but hate the "sin." These people can be very sweetl; however, as long as it is classified as a sin by many churches, these good people will continue to take that stance toward it.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/4/2014 5:07:00 PM
I don't get it either. Maybe some of them are homosexuals and are feeling bad that they don't have the courage to admit it. Others are just mean and ignorant. That is How I feel about it, but I am the black sheep of my family in the liberal views I have.
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/4/2014 5:07:00 PM
soupmail for you
Flach Avatar
Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:53:00 PM
Thanks for your input Andrea. I know a couple of guy men that have said the hardest thing about their sexuality was admitting to themselves they were gay when they were brought up believing it was not a good thing to be. That is the basis for my poem. Additionally, why someone else's sexuality is so threatening to complete strangers is beyond my level of comprehension. People have no problem with men killing innocent youth because they felt threatened by a hoodie in the neighborhood but, heaven forbid if you love someone of your same gender! I just don't get it.
Date: 3/4/2014 4:41:00 PM
thanks for taking a stand, my man. I have done this at FB and taken a stand over there, and i am sure my friends who are very far right in their religious beliefs are upset to see me doing this. My stepbrother was gay and tried not to practice it up until the time of his death, killed by a drunk driver when he was only 33. I have no idea if he would ever have practiced it but at the time of his death , he was still dating women and trying to figure out how to "have feelings" for them to satisfy the demands of our church, which does not accept gay marriage. It's all so crazy. When I die, I'm gonna ask God why? Why are good people taught to hate homosexuality when 10% of all men are that way.
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Date: 3/4/2014 2:19:00 PM
BEAUTIFUL! Love your poem, Joe. And only a real man will stand up for "his brethren," and are comfortable enough with their own sexuality to be comfortable around those whose tastes differ. The truth is that what is taught for generations is hard to erase... I am teaching my daughter that we are all different. I say things like, "Adults get married," not men and women get married, "Some people have two mommies. Some people have two daddies. You have a mommy and a daddy. Families come in all sizes." Love is good. As long as between consenting adults, all acts of love are fine and dandy! xoxo Cyndi
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:16:00 PM
Thank you for your support Cyndi. I do realize moral concepts that have developed over time are hard to erase, but maybe, just maybe, we can work on changing these ideas one poem at a time. Maybe.
Date: 3/4/2014 1:02:00 PM
Do you hear my applause??? :)
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:11:00 PM
I appreciate the applause, Carrie. I would hope that, someday, this becomes just a common, shared concept not deserving of applause.
Date: 3/4/2014 12:51:00 PM
I would not delete the blog Joe, ...
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David Williams
Date: 3/5/2014 3:28:00 AM
Just to reiterate Joe I am with you on this subject....
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:09:00 PM
David, thanks for your reply and emails. I appreciate your input and respect your point of view.
Date: 3/4/2014 12:11:00 PM
The best thing I have found is the golden rule "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you." and for me that includes animals too!
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:09:00 PM
I try not to make waves, but sometimes, when splashing about in the pool, waves cannot be stopped.
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Debbie Guzzi
Date: 3/4/2014 12:12:00 PM
and Joe good for you, too few people take a stand for anything or anyone!
Date: 3/4/2014 11:59:00 AM
Everyone deserves to be happy... Whom you love is never chosen for you but felt by you... Embrace it.
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 4:08:00 PM
And why the person one individual happens to love is threatening to another complete stranger, is something I cannot comprehend.
Date: 3/4/2014 11:04:00 AM
Hey Joe I am with you on this, we are what we are and who we are, like it or not, but I don't know what was said in the other poem so I can't comment on it but it has obviously upset you, if you want to soup me I will read it...
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Joe Flach
Date: 3/4/2014 11:10:00 AM
David, I am taking you up on your offer and have sent you a Soup Mail. Thanks.

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