Essay About Love in American Mindset Through 1980s-2000s

Love has always been a uniting force for Americans through the decades in the midst of politics, wars, and tragedies. After the Vietnam War, Americans began to question the U.S.’s involvement in war. As people begin to go against traditional norms, they start accepting new ways of thinking. In 1981, the Jackson Five released their song, “Can You Feel It”, singing about the surge of love throughout the world. They sent a message to spread love across the globe, “Take my message to your brother and tell him twice. Spread the word and try to teach the man

Who's hating his brother, when hate won't do. When we're all the same, 'cause the blood inside me is inside you.” (Stanza 2). During this time President Reagan was elected and a few months later he was shot. Many Americans felt threatened as they had been when president, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated two decades earlier. However, people started to feel more secure as the Cold War was ending. “Can You Feel It” gave listeners an anthem of hope and unity as the economy found stability. The song “Love Will Keep Us Alive” by the Eagles released in 1994, was written about a love so strong between two people that it united them in the midst of hunger, homeless, and emptiness. In this decade, new technologies were discovered which connected people more globally and culturally. 

The World Wide Web was developed and new astronomical feats like the Hubble Space Telescope was launched. The Berlin Wall fell in 1991 and marked the official end of the Cold War. With these new exciting innovations, everyone had a peaceful state of mind and began to focus on other aspects of life. The song emphasizes how love can give people the initiative to fight and die for one another, “I would die for you climb the highest mountain” (Stanza 4). This shows pure devotion to one another created by the power of love. In the early 2000s, the Black Eyed Peas published the song “Where’s the Love?”. They were able to tie in the political and social issues within the world. After the tragedy of 9/11, people were filled with fear and distrust against ethnic groups. 

The band was able to compose a song that would point people to a new path of love and acceptance instead of hate and discrimination. “And to discriminate only generates hate. And when you hate then you're bound to get irate” (Stanza 4). They recognize the hate growing within America, but they use their influence on modern society to publicize these issues and ask people to open their hearts. Love is not only an emotion, but a strong unifying state of mind that is dominant throughout history. Through the highs and lows from the 1980s to the 2000s, love remained an impactful force which opened minds and initiated a new way of living.

The album cover represents the change of the American mindset regarding love and acceptance from the 1980s to the 2000s. The plane in the image represents an aircraft dropping atomic bombs during war, however as the bombs drop, they turn into love and they descend on the people of America who stand united in their love for one another. The bombs are symbolic of warfare, fear, and conflict within society, however, the hearts represent a newfound love from Americans. 

The popular saying, “United we stand, divided we fall” by John Dickinson speaks truth to the attitudes and support of citizens for a united country, and was the inspiration behind the album cover. This progression is represented in the black bombs morphing into light red hearts. “U-N-I-T-E-D” is spelled across the people on the album cover, showing how each person has a crucial role in the unification of Americans. America will only stand united if everyone is contributing to a better world and adopting new practices and ideologies.