Is this essay too judgemental against smart people? (please read the entire thing! its a little long though)?

No , they question everything and come to a logical conclusion by weighing the information they have sought out to come up with an answer . That means seeking out information that may oppose what you may want it to be. Learning of all sides of a matter and forming your opinion through logic based on those sides you have learned about.

A critical thinker is some one who isn't quick to answer. It isn't an emotional response , but a well informed one , then that person's logic picks a side, or understanding of a matter. Faith or belief can help one be a critical thinker as well.

But one must be willing to concede that beliefs can be misled or misdirected or come into conflict with what one wants to know.

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.