I wrote a few bad checks a few years ago. can I open a bank account today?

Gas bill as proof of address - partially for most. Birth certificate alone? Highly unlikely as most companies are now required by law to see photographic official identification to prove that you are the person who is taking the account and you're not setting it up for fraud.

There's no excuse for not having proper photo ID in this day and age.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.