Last week I was listening to 102.9 KMIX a local radio station when the DJ came on announcing that he was getting ready to do a bit called "Scared Straight Santa". I thought it was a joke. Unfortunately, I thought wrong. The bit was that he would call up a kid whose parents had turned him in to Santa for being "naughty" rather than "nice". He'd get the kid on the phone and talk to this kid as if he were Santa and knew that he was being "naughty".

While I was listening he called up a little boy about 8 or 9 who had been talking back to his teachers and to his mom and stepfather. "Santa" shamed this boy for his behavior and told him that if he would start being "nice" he would get presents this year. The DJ emphasized that he would "know" what the boy was doing. The little boy talked about his parents being divorced and having to go to a group to talk about it.

Now, here's the thing. This little boy was obviously sad and mad that his parents were not together, and was not happy about his new life situation over which he had no control. The only power a kid has is his behavior. His hurt and anger was being acted out in this way toward his teachers and parents. "Santa" obviously only cares about little boys who have no feelings and behave the way society wants him to behave.

Now the only choice this kid has is to turn his hurt and anger inside. When that happens he will feel bad about himself and treat himself with anger and unkindness. He will become depressed and anxious because he will feel so alone and invalidated.

This abuse by the DJ "Santa" is appalling to me. I called the station and told them to stop it, that they are abusing children. They didn't return my call.

He was abusing the power of Santa at the expense of this little kid. Maybe some of you think this is just silly. You know, that's what I thought at first. That is, until I heard the little boy's voice.

The DJ is Tony Zazza. 102.9 KMIX doesn't get it that what they are doing is wrong. It's a publicity stunt that is getting parents to listen and to "throw their kids under the bus" (as one of the other DJ's called it). Obviously the station manager, and Tony Zazza are hurting themselves. It's clear they didn't have parents who respected them or understood that their feelings are important. Because if they had, they would have known that doing this to kids is wrong. Tell me what you think. Was this wrong? Would you "throw your kids under the bus" but turning them in to "Scared Straight Santa"?