It's not maintained, and I can't vouch for it, but you didn't mention this option. It sounds like what you were trying to do with Batik.
I finally manage to fix it by actually downloading and installing the 1.4 JDK from Sun's archive. Worked no problem. Something must of changed between 1.4 and 1.6.14 but I am glad I got it working.
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.