I've you're looking to store a variable only for the life of a single request, you might consider using Magento's registry. Basically, you insert a value with Mage::register('some_variable_name',$variable); and retrieve it in some other context in the same request with Mage::registry('some_variable_name').
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.