Why not take table as an argument too I mean use post to let the user specify the table they want to search the rest of the code can remain the same. I am not very sure I understood what you really needed so let me know if this is not what you wanted.
If you want to be able to query multiple tables with multiple query terms on each search, sql my not be the best solution. Something like Apache Lucene may be a place to start looking. I know Zend Framework has a component that implements an indexed Lucene search engine and may be a place to start (you can use just the components you want with ZF).
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.