Your story is well-written and powerful, and I am sure it took a lot of courage to write it. Thank you for sharing it.

Buddy I feel for you man I really do, BUT what is the point of putting his name in this article AGAIN? So many of us have children on the internet now, kids do family trees…..

Is there a reason to give that information? What is the point? If you can’t forgive him, OK I get that absolutely, but you need to turn the other cheek. You need to be concerned with your nieces, nephews, and all of our children. Please man, don’t be vindictive. I’m really trying to appeal to you as family, and as somebody who is concerned with our family that is still here on Earth……and is innocent.

Todd,
Despite having access to me on both Facebook and MySpace, and having the ability to get my e-mail address or phone number from other family members, you choose to discuss this here? Fine.

1. With the exception of a two week period not long after publication, Arthur Monigold’s name has been in the piece the entire time it has been published here (Since August 2009). And, just so some Ohioans who think they’re slick will know, I check the piece every day to make sure it stays there.

2. Here’s the response I gave Michele, when she asked me to remove the name:

While I can certainly understand your concerns, and your fears about the future, I can not remove Arthur’s full name from Death, and the Victim. I am sorry.

Please understand that my decision to publish this piece, including the name, came after much consideration…years of consideration, in fact. Foremost in my mind were the many possible reactions my own mother might have to this piece.

I began writing the piece several years ago, in anticipation of Arthur’s death. I came to Ohio last October with every intention of showing it to the family after the funeral. At that time, however, I decided to allow my mother time to grieve. Many times since, I’ve thought to release this piece, but always found the timing to be wrong. Or, perhaps more accurately, I always found some reason to convince myself that the timing was wrong. Finally, I came to realize that there is no “good” time to drop this kind of thing on a family.

While this revelation was not meant to hurt anyone, I knew that releasing this information had the very real potential to cause discomfort and anger amongst family members. In addition, I realize that several of my statements in the piece — aside from the actual revelation of the abuse — could serve to further enrage some. However, the anger — my anger revealed in those statements, and that of family members — does nothing to diminish the truth of Arthur’s sexual abuse of several family members.

3. I think it’s extremely important for people to learn from the past. If even one child learns that it’s OK to “tell” on an adult who is doing this kind of thing, I’ll be happy.

4. The truth is important, even if it’s ugly.

5. Last August you called me a “liar,” and now you “appeal to (me) as family.” Interesting.

6. The piece — name included — is being published in a print magazine this June.

Todd,
Wow. Thanks. I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in months!

When I finally caught my breath, I considered responding to your latest comment, but then decided that “debating” one of the “special…smarter, better looking, more interesting” people would only be a waste of my time.

Actually, Todd, the funny thing is that you think that there is anything you can reveal about my past (which is all accessible in public records; unlike, oh I don’t know, just as an example: juvenile criminal history) that could embarrass me or cause more pain than what our grandfather (Oh, yeah, that would be ARTHUR H. MONIGOLD) did when he SEXUALLY ABUSED me and AT LEAST THREE OTHER LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS.

And those three people could “back up” my story, if they were ready to reveal their history of abuse to the world. Some of them just aren’t ready, some will never be ready to talk about it (beyond talking to me), and some see your ranting and name calling and will never reveal it. And, if that’s their decision, I support them completely.