I do have an entire bible, and enjoy reading it. Including The Apocrypha. (said I was not entirely orthodox)
Let me put it this way - does your church have a cross in it? That is an image, right. A symbol. Would you disrespect it? Burn it? I doubt it very much - no Christian of any creed would. Why not?
Do you have a picture of Jesus? Go rip it up. You would not.
Or take November 11th. Do you wear a poppy in remembrance of the fallen? (Not sure if Americans do that, sorry) Are you venerating the paper and plastic poppy, or is it a symbol of the dead?
A statue is a symbol. A gravestone is a symbol. Would you deface a grave?
We are commanded to not mistake the symbol for the fact.
People do, though. I would no more deny that than I would deny I am typing a response to you right now. Which is why we have the God given commandment. Everyone can be a little dumb at times and need a reminder. He knows that.
But people don’t bow down before the poppy or cross and pray to it and light candles to it.
Yes, a statue can be a reminder or representation, but when those other activities are directed towards then, it crosses the line from representation to idolatry.