We Don't 12 March, 2001. Tear gas won t ever win any awards for pleasantness. Your eyes turn to fire as you squint your way through the clouds. Your throat coughs up whatever it can to protect your lungs.
Nostrils flare and turn a fire engine red.
You just drop what you have and run, taking care to help up those who have fallen. With an ominous pop the canister flies from its muzzle, coming to rest after a few bounces on the pavement. For at least a few moments today, vehicle traffic could pass through the haphazardly fixed road between Birzeit and Ramallah. At the zenith of our initially peaceful demonstration, a symbolic ambulance was the first to pass through amid cheers from the five hundred or so marchers and members of the press. Then a few taxis passed through, and several of the Palestinian youth climbed in and on top, waving flags and banners and pictures of Arafat.