Sacrifice is part of evolved morality. It's not always indicative of the greatest intelligence, but self-sacrifice is usually done with the most noble intentions.

Taking a bullet for your President, Blowing yourself up for Allah or sacrificing your government to atone for past mistakes - all these are moral decisions.

In the effort to atone for past moral iniquity - racism - they sacrificed the stability, security and comfort they enjoyed. However it's a double-sided coin. While crime skyrockets and murder and mayhem rule the streets, South Africa becomes like Haiti and the world sees that perhaps they should watch out what they wish for.

Race is such a highly charged issue that pointing out anything in terms of race-based statistics or crime (prison polulation) will lead to one being called a racist. Our own moral impulse abhors the appearance of anything immoral and so folks avoid the issue altogether in fear. This abhorrence to moral failure finally led to the capitulation of the government in South Africa.

There's an interesting debate waging on Tacitus' blog about Steve Sailer's (another blogger) comments and pointing out racial abilities, intelligence, etc.

Moral development may mean that eventually the world is only filled with the immoral. If moral folks sacrifice themselves...what's left? The earth is but a speck of dust anyway that will burn up in a fiery cataclysm, so all we really have is our legacy of morality and mental development.
Building and investment losses are meaningless.