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[[Image:Nobel Jorn 111207.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Nobel Jorn 111207.jpg|right]]

The '''Nobel Prize''' is an often politicized award that is criticized for increasing evidence of bias and possibly even corruption.  It has been ostensibly given for achievements in [[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[medicine]] or [[physiology]], [[literature]],  and [[peace]]. Named in honor of [[Alfred Nobel]], the first prize was granted in 1901. The award for [[economics]], the "Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel," was added as a prize in 1969.<ref name="NobelHistory">The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/history/lemmel/index.html History]</ref>

The '''Nobel Prize''' is an often-politicized award that is criticized for increasing evidence of bias and possibly even corruption.  It has been ostensibly given for achievements in [[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[medicine]] or [[physiology]], [[literature]],  and [[peace]]. Named in honor of [[Alfred Nobel]], the first prize was granted in 1901. The award for [[economics]], the "Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel," was added as a prize in 1969.<ref name="NobelHistory">The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/history/lemmel/index.html History]</ref>

As an unwritten rule, the award is not given to a [[conservative]] (such as [[Ronald Reagan]] or [[Pope John Paul II]]), and it is not given to anyone who challenges the scientific establishment on the issues of the [[theory of evolution]] or [[theory of relativity]], such as standouts Raymond Damadian, [[Fred Hoyle]] and [[Robert Dicke]].   

As an unwritten rule, the award is not given to a [[conservative]] (such as [[Ronald Reagan]] or [[Pope John Paul II]]), and it is not given to anyone who challenges the scientific establishment on the issues of the [[theory of evolution]] or [[theory of relativity]], such as standouts Raymond Damadian, [[Fred Hoyle]] and [[Robert Dicke]].   

But despite being one of the most accomplished physicists having numerous contributions, Dicke was repeatedly passed over for the Nobel Prize.  In one egregious case, the prediction and discovery of cosmic background radiation from the [[Big Bang]], the prize was embarrassingly given to less deserving scientists.  The Nobel Prize committee has often given the award in this manner as away of punishing someone more deserving for criticizing a theory preferred by the committee.

But despite being one of the most accomplished physicists having numerous contributions, Dicke was repeatedly passed over for the Nobel Prize.  In one egregious case, the prediction and discovery of cosmic background radiation from the [[Big Bang]], the prize was embarrassingly given to less deserving scientists.  The Nobel Prize committee has often given the award in this manner as away of punishing someone more deserving for criticizing a theory preferred by the committee.

== Controversial Awards ==

== Biased Awards ==

Equally there have been several instances where prizes were awarded to those whom many felt did not deserve the honor. Controversy in this regard has been especially acute in the award of the Peace Prize. When [[Henry Kissinger]] was awarded the prize in 1973 the American satirist, [[Tom Lehrer]], observed that this had rendered political satire 'obsolete'. Many were outraged by the award to [[Yasir Arafat]] in 1994 and others were equally appalled by the prize being awarded to [[Menachem Begin]] in 1978 especially in the light of his involvement with the terrorist group [[Irgun Zvai Leumi]].  The oddity culminated in 2007 when [[Al Gore]] was given the peace prize for writing about [[Global Warming]], a slap in the face to all other peace activists that year who truly tried to end conflicts to save lives.  

Equally there have been several instances where prizes were awarded to those whom many felt did not deserve the honor. Controversy in this regard has been especially acute in the award of the Peace Prize. When [[Henry Kissinger]] was awarded the prize in 1973 the American satirist, [[Tom Lehrer]], observed that this had rendered political satire 'obsolete'. Many were outraged by the award to [[Yasir Arafat]] in 1994, who was reportedly associated with the Munich massacre of Jewish athletes in 1972.<ref>http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzUyZjg1MTY2NjgxOTQ5Zjg2OWIwOTNjMTQxY2U4MTk=</ref>  Further politicization of the award occurred in 2007 when [[Al Gore]] was given the peace prize for promoting the dubious theory of man-made [[Global Warming]], a political agenda that has no clear connection with "peace".

One factor that may fan the flames of controversy is the speed of recognition with regard to The Peace Prize in relation to the prizes for science and literature which are often awarded decades after the work that is being recognized. In contrast The Peace Prize has often been awarded only a year or so after the political events that have merited the award, and often well before the long term consequences of those events have become clear (and Arafat's award is particularly controversial in this respect).

Bias is facilitated by the haste in awarding The Peace Prize, which in Gore's case seemed to be timed to boost a potential presidential campaign. The Peace Prize has often been awarded only a year or so after the political events that have merited the award, and often well before the long term consequences of those events have become clear (and Arafat's award is particularly controversial in this respect).

Whatever the controversies The Peace Prize has, on many occasions, provided much needed recognition for a struggle against oppression that might have otherwise been ignored. Particularly clear examples of this have been the award in 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi for her heroic struggle against the brutal military dictatorship in [[Myanmar]] (Burma) and the award in 1996 to Jose Ramos Horta and Bishop Belo of [[East Timor]] in recognition of their struggle against the oppressive and, at times, genocidal occupation of that country by the [[Indonesia]]n government.

Some praise the Nobel Peace Prizes given in 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi for her heroic struggle against the brutal military dictatorship in [[Myanmar]] (Burma) and the award in 1996 to Jose Ramos Horta and Bishop Belo of [[East Timor]] in recognition of their struggle against the oppressive and, at times, genocidal occupation of that country by the [[Indonesia]]n government.

== Anti-American bias in Literature award ==

== Anti-American bias in Literature award ==