Will Lua allow me to “read in” the text from the Wireshark Filter text box?

No, you can't read it, but you can set the filter and apply it to the current capture. See the GUI Support section in the Wireshark docs.

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.