International current events

Two things have left me disheartened (it's another list-I like to make lists for my blog):

1. The blasts to Sunni mosques in Samarra, Iraq have made me sick to my stomach. Literally. These are HUNDREDS of years old. The Al-Askariya Mosque has now lost its minarets from this attack, and its dome back in 2006. When I heard this news, I felt sick and nauseous. It's just so sad. It was built in the 900s! According to Wikipedia, Al-`Askarī or the `Askariyya Mosque/Shrine (Arabic: مرقد الامامين علي الهادي والحسن العسكري; transliterated: Marqad al-Imāmayn `Alī l-Hādī wa l-Ħassan al-`Askarī) is a Shī`a Muslim holy site located in the Iraqi city of Samarra 60 miles from Baghdad. It is one of the most important Shī`ite mosques in the world, built in 944.[1] Its dome was destroyed in February 2006 (see al-`Askarī Mosque Bombing).
The remains of the tenth and eleventh Shī`a Imāms, `Alī l-Hādī and his son Hassan al-`Askarī, known as "the two `Askarīs" (al-`Askariyyān), rest at the shrine.[2] It stands adjacent to a shrine to the Twelfth or "Hidden" Imām, Muħammad al-Mahdī. The `Askariyya Shrine is also known as the "Tomb or Mausoleum of the Two Imāms", "the Tomb of Imāms `Alī l-Hādī and Hassan al-`Askarī" and al-Hadhratu l-`Askariyya.
Also buried within the Mosque are the remains of Hakimah Khatun, sister of `Alī l-Hādī, and of Narjis Khatun, mother of Muħammad al-Mahdi.[3]

2. FIFA decided last month to prohibit international tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches above 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). That rules out the capitals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and the stadiums of leading teams in Peru, Chile and Mexico. (La Paz is the world's highest capital BTW). In protest, Evo Morales of Bolivia and some of his staff played soccer at above 19,000 feet and said they were fine. Here is the rest of the article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/06/13/bolivia.football.ap/index.html Totally unbelievable and NOT FAIR!! It's not their fault that their cities are high. They still want to host international soccer events! Players will be fine.