Liy Learned That

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Liy Yusof

Human selfishness is a colonial myth

Human selfishness is a colonial myth

Isn't it rational to believe that humans are innately violent, chaotic, and fragile? That our truest self is selfish and competitive, that we break into aggression and panic in disasters? Doesn't our power-hungry nature compel us to ruin everything?

The only 2 binaries that matter to me now

The only 2 binaries that matter to me now

Here are a couple of clarifying ideas that have helped me recognise and make sense of Reality lately— maybe it will also help you cut through the noise? Includes my current go-to definition of capitalism.

Finding Jesus and Mary in Ramadan

Finding Jesus and Mary in Ramadan

In which a Muslim in Ramadan reclaims Christianity from colonial Empires and prays for liberation for the homeland of Isa and Maryam, and for all oppressed peoples.

Abusers always use the same moves (and physical violence is not one of them)

Abusers always use the same moves (and physical violence is not one of them)

What should surprise us about abuse isn't how long it takes to leave, but that one has the strength to endure captivity disguised as courtship.

Writing for insight: Some design principles

Writing for insight: Some design principles

How did I take notes before? What did I learn about writing for insight? How do I know what I know? Written at the 5-year mark of my zettelkasten practice.

What we really need is outside of the algorithm

What we really need is outside of the algorithm

When your worldview gets darker the longer you scroll on ig or tiktok, accept this invitation to rescue your attention from algorithm-curated spaces and return it to human curation, moderation, and action.

Poem: Pull The Tower

Poem: Pull The Tower

A magnet poem, September 2024

To bear witness is an act of resistance

To bear witness is an act of resistance

On bearing witness, decolonising death positivity, and being steadfast with a heart that will never recover.

"Love goes on and on"

Tea In The Garden

"Love goes on and on"

And then suddenly the tone of the film entirely shifted, just for two beings walking the forest at night, in love.

A 'privilege' so slow, it is the same as losing

A 'privilege' so slow, it is the same as losing

A gentle reminder to the next person who asks me if we are in a world war, and if yes, how would I know.

We only own what was given to us freely

We only own what was given to us freely

If modern life in a climate emergency and multiple genocides means we could be among the last to ever believe, then it may be that we understand the struggle against injustice better now than the early Muslims did.

Five ways of knowing

Five ways of knowing

How do you know what you know? In what ways do we accept, question, or resist authority? This framework gives you a language to describe the depth of your knowledge in any topic.