I can think of dozens of reasons to cough and few that benefit from drinking water. So why does everyone seem to suggest you take a drink?

When people see someone in distress, it upsets them. They often offer useless things just to feel like they are "helping", even if their gestures aren't effective. Think of how people often respond to a sneeze by saying "bless you" or "gazunteight".

It doesn't really do anything and most have forgotten the superstitious reasons for this archaic tradition, but it is still a way to express your sympathy for another person's discomfort. In the case of coughing, water or any drink can sometimes provide relief. If the person coughing has an irritated throat or couldn't quite swallow a speck of food, water can help.

Since it works part of the time and is easy to procure, a concerned bystander will offer water because it seems kinder than ignoring the plight of another.

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.