You don't say what OS you are on, but if you are on Mac OS, you need to exercise some care removing gems from the system.
You can remove any system gems, the only thing you have to check before removing them is to make sure not programs like textmate etc use the system ruby (as default) with some of the gems.
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.