But by stirring a discussion about the resonance of certain images to Jews and Christians alike, the lead objects have refocused attention on a deep but contentious commonality.
His reputation was forged in the refiner's fire of Sept. 11, which burned away the dross of what had been a successful but contentious two terms as New York City's mayor, a guy who reduced crime, yet picked fights with squeegee men and jaywalkers.
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Fiscal debates will again dominate Congress' agenda for early 2013, but other contentious battles such as immigration reform will also split House Republicans and could test Boehner's hold on the speaker's gavel.
But the most contentious subject before it is whether to ban the veil completely, not only in schools but in all public offices.
Nuclear fission avoids using large quantities of fossil fuel for energy but is very contentious because it produces radioactive waste.
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It is expected that teachers will have to prove their ability in eight areas - but the most contentious is reported to be the measurement of pupils' improvement.
The National Football League scratched one controversial rule but introduced a new one at its annual meeting in Arizona on Wednesday as the league eliminated the so-called "tuck rule" but approved a contentious new measure to limit hits with the helmet.
Bonuses are back in vogue throughout the industry but are proving particularly contentious in France.
The NFL labor negotiations going on this week are contentious, but are merely about how to split the pie between owners and players.
But the housing is contentious, too, as campaigners say it will divert effort from refurbishing the many properties in Hastings in a state of decay.
Contentious, but supremely competent, Severson is FORBES' entrepreneur of the year.
United went ahead on the half-hour, but it was a contentious moment that will have left Celtic and their massed ranks of supporters nursing a sense of injustice.
The Scottish Grand Committee, which had a Labour majority but operated in a House with a Tory majority, was allowed to discuss purely Scottish issues, but on non- contentious matters.
This is a contentious measure - but any votes are more likely to come later, at report stage.
But such liberalization is invariably contentious, and will require concerted political will.
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But biometric identity is a contentious issue all over the world, and the unique number has also raised a number of thorny questions.
But one of the most contentious issues is Iran's nuclear programme.
If the reason is doubtful, so is the result: the process of choosing which equity analyst stays or which sales team keeps which account is likely to be contentious in all but the few areas where one firm has a decided edge (where it will merely be brutal).
E-rights are especially contentious these days, but hold your ground.
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The Conservatives have offered the government a compromise deal under which the party would not seek to block the bill - but only so long as the contentious "right to roam" is dropped.
This last point was contentious to non-programmers but trivial to people who make computers.
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There, hundreds of wild varieties exist, but government officials have sometimes had a contentious relationship with foreign coffee sellers.
"India has considerable potential, but its future performance relies on resolving contentious structural and policy issues that inhibit investment, " said the bank.
But not everything in the bill is contentious.
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Police said Dykes was "contentious" the entire time, but he allowed them to deliver comfort items for Ethan including coloring books and toys.
The vote, mostly along party lines, ends a year of contentious debate on Capitol Hill, but the fierce lobbying effort by the banking industry will likely continue.
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Some of the positions may have people nominated for them but just because the position itself is so contentious the nominee might not get confirmed by the end of the term.
But filling in the details is expected to be contentious and emotional, with plenty of roadblocks.
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