Salam alaykum,
I think one unnoticed aspect in all of these types of things is the Shia contention that the Prophet (SAW) was in fact only waging defensive wars,etc. but only when the later Khulaafaa came to power did they convert people by the sword and seek to expand "their empire" to the world. Thus, the narrative is that of lenient, "tolerant Shia Islam" versus the "intolerant, vicious Sunni fanatics". This is why we see the Merry Christmas messages from their leaders and even statues of Maryam or 'Isa (AS) in Shia places - the message to the world, especially the liberal secular world is that Shiaism is close to them, unlike Sunnism. (From my observations, it is a very much liked point, at least among Shias themselves, that they see themselves as progressive and lenient in comparison to us).
Wa Salaam.