X is for Xanadu
Defined as a place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment. Alternatively, an Olivia Newton-John song from the 1978 hit movie “Grease.” Not Xanadu.
Like Utopia, Xanadu isn’t a very realistic expectation. To make a Utopia experience, a whole lot of people have to do things they may or may not want to be doing. There’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing, but for every towel boy and serving person who thinks those jobs are Utopia, there are a dozen who…don’t. And, if your Utopian experience includes someone to pick up your towel for you at poolside and to serve you your meals, chances are, it’s not Utopia for everyone. In fact, for one person to have a Utopian or Xanadu-like experience, hundreds live in misery. Is that Xanadu for everyone or just you? Are you the kind of person who could enjoy Xanadu full-time realizing it wasn’t that way for everyone? I hope not.
On the other hand, I believe everyone deserves some time in Xanadu. It’s a way to refresh our souls and prepare ourselves for the decidedly un-Xanaduian world we find ourselves occupying.
According to Wikipedia (and my admittedly faulty memory), the song is from the movie Xanadu.
In addition to you & me, I’ve seen one other Xanadu post today!
Can I have a robot pool-boy and maid to get more time in Xanadu? (What do you mean, robots have rights, too? *sigh*)
Refreshing the spirit is good.
You’re right about the movie Xanadu (1980) — Olivia Newton-John vocals and Electric Light Orchestra lyrics. I saw the Grease album cover in the sidebar for the lyrics and jumped on that. (Now that I think about it, I believe the Olivia Newton-John hit from Grease was “You’re the One That I Want.”)
In today’s world, robots don’t have rights yet, so you can exploit the heck out of them until they do. Ahem. Not that that is the right thing to do, but we could have an entire “E is for Ethics” discussion about that, couldn’t we?
We sure could, starting with why it’s less ethical to use robots to do what we want than it is to use computers. Should a Roomba have the right not to be dressed in funny costumes? 😉
As for Grease vs. Xanadu — I think I can sing the entire soundtrack of the former, but only a few from the latter. (Not that anyone aside from my kids would be willing to listen.)
Why would it be more wrong to dress the Roomba in funny costumes (I hadn’t seen these pictures yet) than, say, your cat or your baby (the things some poor babies are forced to wear!)? I would think Roombas would sue for the right not to be chased by German Shepherds or ridden by cats as part of their work contracts. 😉
I did Xanadu, too! However, I took the meaning, and wrote what I thought my Xanadu would be… And, yes, we all deserve some time in Xanadu!
Here is my A to Z Challenge. I hope you stop by!