Your script looks fine to me. If I were you, I would try running the script in another OS X account on the same computer, repair permissions, look at your logs (you've already done that, but it's still a good idea), run all relevant software updates, temporarily move your ~/Library/Mail folder to eliminate it as a factor, etc. Tell me what happens, especially if it works again :).
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.