I have just read your previous post and I must say that I have very different feelings about nationality than most of the commenters. I am proudly, and have always thought of myself as such, South African. I have never felt the shame and the guilt so many seemed to feel, and thus never felt like I should disown my country of birth. I was 14 when the first democratic elections happened. I led a very sheltered childhood in the Northern Suburbs so apartheid was something I learned about in high school and after. I don't know if this makes a difference or not, it's just a fact of my upbringing.

When I think of being South African I feel hope and pride that we've come this far. It was very evident on my recent trip where I talked a lot about being South African. I got lots of questions about the country and apartheid and stuff and I think I represented my country well. I don't think that rabid nationality is a good thing at all but I feel there's something a bit sad about not being happy or proud of where you come from.

We will probably go overseas at some point, maybe to Vancouver or Amsterdam, but this will always be my home. I will always be South African and proud of it. I think because of what it represents, that phoenix-like rising from a dark and terrible past into a new country that has troubles but is trying hard to work through them.

Just my not-very-well-written 2c :).