Yes,Portland is an exremley artist driven city. For at least the last ten years any popular music act would most likely make it a point to stop and play in portland, usually directly before or after playing in the San Fancisco and Oakland area. ( Lady Gaga is playing on 8/19/2010 ) but Its disputable who the most famous band to have played there is, here is an example of a more popular arena music act venue in Portland, rosequarter.com.
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.