Many decades have passed, but the love remains the same.

[constantinusphilo]

present perfect vs past simple

Is there any difference in meaning between these sentences:
Many decades have passed, but the love remains the same.
Many decades passed, but the love remains the same.

I think the first is more British while the second is more American.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know what that means, and I also don't know why you think the second sentence is typical American usage. (It makes no sense to me,)

 

[5jj]

I think the first is more British while the second is more American.

The second doesn't work for this speaker of BrE.

 

[jutfrank]

Only the first sentence works. The speaker is talking about the present situation, so you need present tenses.