When you look directly into the eyes of the figure depicted on an Orthodox icon, energy is coming your way, that is, you get healed. If you correctly sign yourself with the sign of the cross, your blood is purified. But like if you look onto Roman Catholic-Buddhist icon, then you get passions transferred to you.
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.