All Involved, by Ryan Gattis, is a novel set during the LA riots in 1992. For some background, the LA riots began after the beatings of Rodney King by the LAPD. The novel included a multitude of perspectives on this issue and how they continued their daily innocent lives during the riots.
Anthony Smiljanic, a firefighter in the LAFD during and before the riots and was extremely well respected. Having an African- American coworker, Anthony takes a middle of the ground stance on the riots but doesn’t necessarily support them. Anthony seemed to be very focused on his job but nonchalant regarding the reason for the riots. He knew what he had to get done and how he had to get it done and says his “head is on a swivel.” He exclaims that “you send one to the hydrant, he gets hassled, so you send two to the hydrant, and they get hassled too, so it’s gotten to the point where you don’t even bother opening a hydrant without two escort cars, each one blocking both ends of the block.” Anthony takes a very emotionless approach to his job because if he lets his anger get to him that could cause him to not complete his job accurately. He comes up with a plan and analyzed his job in regards to the cul de sac fire. The riots seem to add an extra factor when it comes to fighting fires and challenged him. “Right now the priority is fighting the fire and then fighting it again two blocks down.” Anthony reaches his breaking point when his partner “Guiterrez” is injured and expresses his anger but can’t waste energy on it.
This is a great example of an American hero. Not infusing any of his political agenda into his work and getting the job done. Although he hates what’s going on, he feels powerless in the sense that he is going to make the difference for the riots to stop so he buckles down and gets his work done.
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