Teams in every sport, at every level of competition, have a mascot. It is the mascot that represents the competitive spirit and identity of the team, motivating players and supporters. Does the chosen symbol have an impact on the victory or defeat of a team? Unlikely. But the choice of a Native American mascot continues to spark debate and controversy among athletes, fans and alumni, as well as people who might otherwise lose interest in the sport. Using an Indian mascot is nothing but a veiled attempt at hate speech. The debate over whether Native American mascots should be used as a team symbol dates back to the 1970s (Price 2). People differ on the fundamental issue, but there is a more important underlying principle. It's called freedom. Determining whether or not a person is harmed by a practice can reveal whether that practice can or should be morally justified. Where is the truth about the use of Native American mascots? The reality is that they cannot be morally justified. This certainty cannot be verified by any comparison with other similar phenomena. No such comparison can be made since none exists. So, aren’t the only relevant voices those of the Indians themselves? If this is the case, the truth about these images can only be discovered by talking with the groups depicted. Only those represented should have a voice. Or at the very least, be heard louder and more clearly than those who are not reflected in the representations. Viewing this issue from a utilitarian perspective, it can be explained that the justification given by Native Americans to support the claim that Indian mascots cause harm need not be themselves. being obliged by those of other ethnicities. What Native Americans say about India...... middle of paper ......this. Wausau East Library, Wausau, WI. November 16, 2008. .Morrison, Rich. "Special interview: Rich Morrison speaks out in favor of Native American sports mascots." Issues and controversies on file. March 29, 2002. Problems and controversies. Facts on file. East Wausau Library. Wausau, Wisconsin. November 10, 2008.. “Native American sports mascots. » Problems and controversies on file. April 12. 2002. Problems and controversies. Facts on file. East Wausau Library. Wausau, Wisconsin. November 10, 2008..Price, SL “The Indian Wars”. Sports Illustrated March 4, 2002: 1-5. SI.com. November 16, 2008..Wieberg, Steve. "NCAA mulls future of Indian nicknames." USA today, May 15. 2005. SIRS Researcher. SIRS Knowledge Source. Wausau East Library, Wausau, WI. November 16, 2008.< http://www.sirs.com>.