What is our individual and collective responsibility for violence when a democracy sends its soldiers to war? And, when your young daughter asks, "Is it okay to do bad things to bad people?" how does a father who is a professional soldier truthfully respond? Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Luft has served multiple tours on the front lines of the Afghanistan conflict, and brings us this thoughtful reflection on the nature of war and violence as only a thinking warrior can. Separating signal from noise is an essential part of a military officer's professional life, whether it's part of the planning and conduct of operations or in helping to manage the effects of moral injuries and post-traumatic stress.

Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Luft has served with the Canadian Army for over twenty years as a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Alastair has served multiple tours of duty in combat zones around the world. His first novel, The Battle Within, was released this summer, and he is currently working on a second novel. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx