In Memory of Eugene A. White

I went to the funeral of a dear friend today. I made the 30 minute drive to pay tribute to a man I adored. When I arrived the audience was full of people who also adored him and shared much of the same experience that I had. His son commented that everyone has a "Dr. White story," it was true and most of them were funny.

His obituary was filled with his many accomplishments he was complex yet simple. When we originally met he told me he was an atheist recognizing himself as the "got damn cause" of everything that happened in his life. This spawned many wonderful conversations that went on for years. One day he finally announced himself a Buddhist and threatened to dawn a loin cloth and parade the streets to talk about causality. His generous spirit will be missed. I am honored to call him a friend. I share here his list of guiding principles listed in his obituary.

White's Dozen

1. Everybody is a minority of one.
   
2. Every group is a lie (from Kierkegaard), every hog thinks his own sty is the nastiest. (his Mother)
   
3. I am more than a noun or adjective; I am a verb. Any relevant label for me must relate to my actions and not my adjectivized noun-ness.
   
4. I am not an effect, but rather a cause. I am responsible for my goals and my actions to achieve those goals, as well as for the consequences of my actions or inactions.
   
5. Thought is not so much the result of experience as experience is the result of thought.
   
6. One indispensable part of being a verb, i.e., of "doing," is that I ask. That facilitates my interaction with other verbs.
   
7. The world outside, from my point of view, is not under my control, is not rational, and is not sane. The world inside, however, is mine to control; it is indeed my kingdom.
   
8. "In the beginning was the word" and the word is not to be trusted.
   
9. My skin and hair have little, if anything, to do with what I am. They have more to do, however, with what others may think of me before they meet me. They also have much to do with my commitment to truth and justice, my love of wisdom, and my sense of humor. Those who look for me will find me inside my skin and hair.
   
10. Prejudice is the ability of some to know me without asking me. Some blacks are guilty of that also, as they insist that if I do not think or talk or act in certain ways, I cannot be black. I am a homo sapiens.
    
11. My six best friends are named who, what, where, how, when and why. (credit to Rudyard Kipling)
    
12. My seven rules of life are:
    
    1. I shall act today.
       
    2. I will perfect myself.
       
    3. I will ask for nothing.
       
    4. I will give generously.
       
    5. I will receive gratefully.
       
    6. I will not pretend.
       
    7. I will blame no one.
       

       (Credit to Seven Rules, A.W. Robertson. Gloxinia Press. 1960)