November 08, 2006
An Interview With the New Senator's Wife
For those of you who have not noticed, Jim Webb, the new senator from Virginia , is married to an Asian American. I have taken an interest in this because this point has been missed by all the political storm clouds. I am glad. I think it's awesome that interracial couples can be successful without their personal dealings being dragged into the political debate. I wanted to know more about Mrs Webb. I came upon this interview by Lowell Feld with the first lady of Virginia .
H́nh bên: Ông Jim Webb (Vietnam War Veteran) tưởng niệm
chiến sĩ trận vong VNCH trong ngày 30/4/2005, đứng cạnh ông là GS Nguyễn Xuân
Vinh, Chủ tịch Hội Đồng Đại Biểu TTCSVNCHHN.
"A Conversation with Hong Le Webb"
by Lowell Feld
1)
You were born in Vietnam . Can you tell us when and how you came to America
, what brought you here, and whether you still have family in Vietnam ?
The 1975 departure was the second one for my parents. My parents and both sets of my grandparents were farmers in the north of Vietnam before 1954. My maternal grandparents were assassinated by the communists during the French War, and when the country split, my parents went to Vung Tau with my paternal grandparents and my three oldest siblings. As practicing, devout Catholics, my parents didn't believe that they and their family would have survived in the the north after 1954 nor in the south after 1975. |
2) What is your educational background, and what do you do now? Can you talk about what it's like to be a working mom in America , compared to what it would be like in Vietnam ? My family parallels Jim's family educationally. My father had a 5th grade education, and my mother never learned how to write and barely knew how to read. Despite not having the same opportunities in education, my parents always stressed the importance of education to all their children. My siblings and I are first-generation immigrants to the U.S. , and given our age ranges, have varying degrees of education. I grew up in New Orleans , got my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , and my law degree from Cornell University . I am a corporate securities lawyer in the Washington office of a Michigan-based law firm. I don't think it would be possible to compare what it would be like as a working mom in the U.S. versus in Vietnam because the opportunities that existed for me in the U.S. would not have existed in Vietnam . I am not unique in the issues I face as a mom with a career. I've had to balance competing interests relating to childcare, long hours as a lawyer, staying actively involved in my daughter's education and extra-curricular activities, and my own maternal desire to be involved in my daughter's life in every respect. I believe these competing interests are being dealt with by many working mothers today, especially at a time when two working parents are the norm rather than the exception. However, my five sisters and I have had a great example in our mother and have been blessed with being part of a close-knit, extended family. I come from a family of very strong women. My mother worked side-by-side with my father in north Vietnam and was the primary breadwinner in south Vietnam. Most of my sisters have been entrepreneurs at one time or another; a couple still run their own businesses. My parents participated in the rearing of many of my nieces and nephews while my sisters were building careers and working outside the home. I have been similarly blessed with my own daughter, Emily. My former in-laws have been primarily responsible for Emily's childcare since she was born. Despite our divorce, I still am close to my ex-husband and his family: I talk to my ex almost daily; I still call my in-laws "mom and dad"; and we've celebrated holidays together, including with extended members of our respective families. And yes, Jim and to some extent his children (as they are older and have outside interests) have been brought into the fold.
3) How did you meet Jim Webb and what attracted you to each other?
I can tell you what I love, respect and admire about Jim - among them are his deep sense of patriotism and duty to country; his love of family and family history; his uncanny ability to appreciate differences in cultures that have allowed him to travel all over the world and fit in; his belief in the over-arching theme of fairness when it comes to addressing our public policy issues; and his honesty, integrity and forthrightness in fighting for the things he cares about.
4) What was it like, as a Vietnamese woman, to be introduced into Jim's
Scots-Irish, southwest Virginia family and culture?
5) How do you feel about Jim running for public office? In particular,
what's it like having your husband and family under intense public scrutiny?
As for Jim being under public scrutiny, I am hopeful that people who are deciding on their choice for Senator will see behind the negative, personal, smear campaign against Jim as a common political tactic of the other side in the past decade. I invite people to read Jim's writings and do their own research. Jim no doubt has lived through some of the most divisive periods in this country's history, and his positions must be taken in the context of the histories of those times. However people may feel about Jim's stance on specific issues, I am confident that they will find that Jim is an honest and principled man and leader, and he will never compromise his honesty and principles for political or personal gains.
6) Can you tell us a little about what it's like for the family with Jimmy
Webb "in harm's way" over in Iraq ?
7) Are there any stories you'd like to share about family life with Jim?
What are some favorite family activities?
8) How's Jim's Vietnamese?
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters. |
Vài Nét Về Luật Sư Hồng Lê Webb
Luật sư Hồng Lê Webb
Tân thượng nghi. sĩ tiểu bang Virginia - Jim Webb cùng
phu nhân: luật sư Hồng Lê Webb
Sau chiến thắng cuối cùng của ông Jim Webb tại tiểu bang Virginia, đă đẩy đảng Dân Chủ lên nắm quyền lănh đạo tại Thượng Viện Hoa Kỳ, người ta được biết thêm là phu nhân của ông Jim Webb là một phụ nữ Việt Nam tên là Lê Hồng
Theo sự t́m hiểu của chúng tôi th́ bà Lê Hồng cùng gia đ́nh của bà vươt biển t́m tự do vào năm 1975 từ Vũng Tàu. Bố mẹ của bà Lê Hồng là người di cư từ miền Bắc năm 1954.
Định cư tại Hoa Kỳ, bà Lê Hồng học hết bậc trung học, sau đó theo học đại học Michigan - và tốt nghiệp với hai bằng cấp: Lịch sửÁ Châu và chính trị học. Sau đó bà theo học luật tại đại học Cornell - một đại học tư danh tiếng tại Hoa Kỳ. Hiện bà Lê Hồng đang hành nghề luật sư chuyên về luật chứng khoáng và luật thương mại công ty. (security and corporate law).
Bà lập gia đ́nh với ông Jim Webb vào năm ngoái .
Quư bạn đọc có thể bấm vào các link dưới đây để theo dơi các phần video về bà luật sư Lê Hồng trong lúc vận động tranh cử với ông Jim Webb
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=1M4q0sbEglk
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Di_wLC5aq6U
Video trong đêm chiến thắng 7/11/2006
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=7EEuPyCDoQE
Video cùng với cựu thổng thống Bill Clinton