Steven --
While I understand what you are saying, in my opinion we should err on the side of respect for religious symbols. We gain no friends among the people who love these symbols by doing something with them that is viewed in their eyes as a political gesture. We just don't. All ideals taken well into account, in my view pragmatic usefulness weighs heavily in favour of not doing things like this, even if it was not an embrace or what have you. Many people, many, many people take offense at having their religious symbols politicised, and to be honest, our issues about acceptance are currently political issues as much as they are spiritual ones. I can't escape the conclusion that these kinds of actions will do more harm to us than good in the minds of those for whom these symbols hold spiritual import.
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