By Brandon Goodwin

In 2004, after her son was killed in the Iraq War, Cindy Sheehan became an outspoken activist against the war. Sheehan traveled the U.S. speaking out against President Bush and the war.

On Saturday, Sheehan spoke to UK and Transylvania University students to promote her new book, “Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution,” and to campaign for the anti-war movement.

The purpose of Sheehan’s book is to dispel what she thinks are myths that everyday Americans hold true, she said. Myths that she talks about in her book include “Elections Matter,” “America has a Free Press” and “There is a Huge Difference between Democrats and Republicans.”

The other purpose of her speech was to revitalize the anti-war movement that Sheehan believes collapsed with the election of President Barack Obama.

Although Obama stood against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has done little to change the policies of the Bush administration, Sheehan said.

“Why do smart people buy into rhetoric and empty promises, when the actions are the same? He is doing the exact same thing, only worse,” she said.

A mixed crowd of students, professors and the general public attended the event, hosted at the Cowgill Auditorium at Transylvania University.

Nathan Kitchens, a political science sophomore at UK, said he kept an open mind before listening to Sheehan’s lecture.

“I had heard about her through the national media, and my environmental studies teacher encouraged me to come. I would have come regardless,” Kitchens said.

Kitchens said Sheehan was respectful but more pessimistic about the American system of government than he is.

“I’m not sure if I agreed with everything that she believed to be true,” Kitchens said.

For more information on Sheehan and her book visit her Web site, http://www.cindysheehanssoapbox.com/.