A Mississippi Christmas Wish List, From Bowl Games to Better Health

A MISSISSIPPI CHRISTMAS WISH LIST, FROM BOWL GAMES TO BETTER HEALTH by Mac Gordon, GAZETTE Contributing Editor I don’t want or need much for Christmas, but I am carrying around a short list just in case someone asks.

A pair of those precious Sugar Bowl tickets would be nice if Ole Miss beat Tulane in the college football playoffs’ first round game. There was no guarantee of defeating a team twice in one season. Anyway, I’m putting my bank on alert for a consumer loan for tickets.

Santa was certainly gracious to supporters of Mississippi’s “Big Three” college teams this year. All three, miraculously, are playing in the post season including 5-7 Mississippi State and Southern Miss, whose now exhead coach, Charles Huff, served in that role for exactly one year. He was named USM’s head coach on Dec. 8, 2024. On Dec. 8, 2025, he bolted Hattiesburg for the Memphis job.

I hope Santa gives U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a gift of extra fortitude to try to convince the Administration to end the Ukraine-Russian war. Our senator has pushed hard against Trump’s peace plan that includes more land concessions by Ukraine. Wicker is right to call Russian leader Putin a “war criminal.” The senator has also demanded answers about U.S. attacks on small boats in the Caribbean. Please stay your course, Mr. Wicker.

Now is the time for the Mississippi Legislature to pass a bill suggesting that Gov. Tate Reeves expand Medicaid. Please give our state’s healthcare-vulnerable population the best Christmas present of all: an expansion of this program to provide them the security of health insurance.

An estimated 200,000 to 250,000 needy state citizens have no health coverage like you and I possess. This is shameful. Actually, all Mississippians would benefit by expansion. The Robert Wood Foundation reports that any new state spending is outweighed by long-term savings in overall healthcare expenditures and the new revenue generated. Lord,

I hope Santa presents all of our country the gift of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s resignation as head of healthcare in this nation, or his firing by his boss. We’ve had about enough of him as we can stand. Please put Dr. Fauci back into that job.

What a gift the South received when the SEC Network was created, allowing the people down here to bask in the glory of our college football superiority: five SEC teams in the 12-team playoff.

Many thanks to Santa for giving new physical life to Jackson’s Thalia Mara Hall, one of the brightest lights on our state’s cultural arts scene.

Another Christmas plus for our capital city’s future is a renewed focus on redevelopment of the Farish Street commercial district, once known as the “Black Wall Street.”

The Christmas season in Mississippi features myriad locales with extravagant and stunning seasonal decorations. If you’ve somehow missed “Christmas on Deer Creek” in Leland, visit this memorable destination. Reader’s Digest is touting Canton among the South’s “Top Christmas Towns in the South.” Featured is a merry-goround set in the Square. Natchez is always a grand sight to see at Christmas time, as are several locations along the Gulf Coast and dozens of rural crossroads and villages across Mississippi.

There are no organizations more in need of support this Christmas than food banks across this state. Food costs have soared and many families are hungry. Please dig deep and help your local food bank or go directly to deserving needy families.

Please do not allow a child to suffer the pang of hunger. All of Mississippi’s children deserve a joyous Christmas. Best wishes to them and to you. ---Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.