I agree with former soldier Andrew Fox that a blanket ban on Muslim immigration would not achieve anything.

We need to use a surgical approach to address extremism rather a sledgehammer. It is a surgeon’s cut which can save life but butcher's cut always take a life.

Western countries need to acknowledge their role in the creation of Middle Eastern crisis and address the mass immigration problem appropriately.

The only way to get rid of smoke arising from neighbor’s burning house is to help him in putting off the fire.

I urge true Australian patriots to stop getting in the neck of vulnerable refugees and demand world powers to play their sincere role in solving Middle Eastern crisis.

It is cruel to close our doors and increase the misery of innocent people who have lost everything including their loved one, property and livelihood.

They are in need great need of our compassion, love and care.

They should remember – a friend in need is a friend indeed.

West should not miss out on the great opportunity of winning the hearts of Muslims.

Usman Mahmood

Bowenfels

Human sexuality has a purpose.

To feel good is not that purpose – at best that’s a bonus.

Feelings aren’t good or bad, they’re merely superficial.

Lower animals have sex instinctively to feel good, having no understanding of the purpose of body organs — ovaries, uterus, breasts, plus hormones and all.

As “rational” animals, humans do understand – that obviously the purpose of those bodily attributes is reproduction.

Male and female anatomies are complementary — their function makes them like one body..

If we must do sex education in schools, these basics should be taught.

No doubt such education would be better done at home.

Arnold Jago​

Nichols Point

Truer words have never been spoken.

Former ABARE director Dr Brian Fisher stated last week, “a lot of people in Macquarie Street and the city don’t necessarily see the difficulties that farmers face in the bush”.

Special note should also be taken of his comment: “Farmers know better than most how to balance land and environment.”

He was specifically referring to native vegetation legislation, but whether it’s this or vital water policy implementation, the issue is the same –  we have city-centric politicians and bureaucrats who lack rural understanding and, more importantly, refuse to make the effort to improve their knowledge.

Mike Baird thinks a rural tour is a day trip to Penrith and appears to have little or no interest in the part of his state which exists outside what he considers NSW - Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong.

Or does NSW now stand for North Sydney, Sydney, West Sydney?

His Agriculture and Water Minister, Niall Blair, seems to think the most southern town in the state is Griffith and shows little interest in the productive communities beyond the Murrumbidgee.

And their advisers spend virtually all their time in their Sydney offices, unprepared to venture out and learn about the real world.

If Mr Baird and his colleagues don’t want a massive bush backlash at the next election, I’d suggest it’s time to get out of their comfort zone.

Vicki Meyer

Deniliquin