Should an icon show current state or next state?

There is neither standardization nor general human tendency on this. For example, MS Windows UX Interaction Guidelines specifies four basic kinds of toggling progressive disclosure control . Three out of four show the state-when-activated, while one shows the current state.

This has not been truly standardized. Folder icons, for example, show open folders when they are open and closed folders when they are closed. Same for disclosure triangles, etc.

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.