The Thousand points of light was a recurring phrase in speeches given by George H. W. Bush. The term was coined by speechwriter Peggy Noonan. In his inaugural address on January 20, 1989, Bush said:
I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I will ask every member of my government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.[1]
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In The Magician's Nephew published in 1955, C. S. Lewis wrote "One moment there had been nothing but darkness; next moment a thousand, thousand points of light leaped out..."
The phrase was taken as the name for the "Thousand Points of Light" award, an award given by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network to honor volunteerism.
"Point of Light" is the title of a song co-written by Don Schlitz and Thom Schuyler and recorded by American country music artist Randy Travis, which deals with the contributions of teachers, and refers to this program. It was the lead-off single released from his album, High Lonesome.
Neil Young criticized the theme in his song "Rockin' in the Free World":
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand[2]
Bad Religion references the slogan in the song "Heaven is Falling" from their 1992 album Generator:
It sounds like heaven is fallin'.
You promised me a new day a-dawnin'.
I've seen a thousand points of light,
Like so many points of hatred, shame, and horror.
Bruce Dickinson referenced the phrase in the anti-war song "1000 Points of Light" his 1994 album Balls to Picasso
Todd Snider referenced this phrase in the 1994 song "My Generation Part 2":
We'll buy anything from Diet Sprite
To One Thousand Points of Light
The title of the 21 Jump Street episode "Blinded by the Thousand Points of Light" is also a mocking reference to the first President Bush, who had recently assumed the presidency when the episode aired.
Dana Carvey often used the phrase in his famous Saturday Night Live impressions of President Bush.