The 1980s were a time when being happy was celebrated. Young people in colorful clothes with fun haircuts danced in clubs with self-assured smiles. Conservative figures like William F. Buckley and Ronald Reagan embraced being “happy warriors,” while the Left tended to focus on the negative aspects of life.
Despite any challenges, Americans in the 1980s found ways to embrace happiness. The culture of the time encouraged people to love their country and the institutions within it. However, the rise of punitive liberalism in the 1960s began to shift the national psyche towards a more negative and unhappy outlook.
As the decades passed, happiness seemed to fade away as punitive liberalism gained momentum. The 1990s marked a turning point where the culture of happiness began to be replaced by a more cynical and critical mindset. The advent of “wokeness” further eroded the joy that was once so prevalent.
Today, we find ourselves in a society that lacks the joy and variety of expression seen in the 1980s. G.K. Chesterton once noted that modern society has grown weary of joy, replacing it with false idols that lead to perversion and dissatisfaction.
Despite these challenges, it’s important to remember the importance of happiness. As author Mark Judge points out, it is impossible to tire of joy. So, in a world that may seem colorless and monotonous, it’s crucial to hold on to the spirit of happiness and positivity that defined the 1980s.
