That function will always return zero since your constants are stored in native endianness of the system as well. A much better bet is to just use an system API that answers your question. If you had to be portable, you can probably compare val == ntohl(val) to decide endianness.
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.