Honoring Amir Denha: A Chaldean Pioneer in Publishing
By Adhid Miri, PhD
In this article we shed light on the success story of another pioneer, a publisher, a calligrapher, a caricaturist who embarked on a creative venture with limited resources and minimal support.
Every goal must have a start, a middle, and an end, with many steps or objectives in between. The objectives are check points along the journey, checking off each one as they are accomplished, to continually move forward. Success comes to those who persist, to those who keep their goal in front of them and who move through each step toward their established goal.
Ultimately, success comes through vision, determination, hard work and careful planning. Hard work without planning and a smart goal is just hard work. Hard work combined with vision and a goal eventually has you publishing the Chaldean Detroit Times newspaper.
Personal Biography
Amir Denha was born in Baghdad in 1943, the eldest in a sibling of 4 brothers - George, Ayad and Ziad - and four sisters - Najla, Ayser, Hanaa, and Ayman. He grew up in Baghdad’s Al-Shalchiyya Railway District. Amir’s parents, Mikhael Hana Putrus and Hassina Essou Ayar, were natives to the village of Tel-Kelkepe in Nineveh Province. In 1975, Amir married Haifa Kassir and the couple raised a family of two daughters, Dalia and Olivia, and two sons, Vidal and Rami.
Coming to America
Amir Denha arrived in the United States on January 1, 1967, just a few months before the infamous Detroit riots. His journey to America occurred by chance as his cousin, Sabah Ayar, worked at a Baghdad Airport hotel and had established a friendship with the chief American Consul in Baghdad. This relationship provided the opportunity for Ayar and Denha to obtain visas to the US.
As a youngster, Denha held great ambitions. When he left his Iraqi-Chaldean family in Baghdad to come to the United States, he had the American Dream forefront in his thoughts. “My journey was not easy; America is the place to come to change your life. America is the place to start a new life. That is why I came to America,” recalls Denha. Whether it was inspiration or desperation, his early dreams came true as he started opening A & L (Amir and Lilly) party stores in Detroit in the aftermath of the riots.
The American Dream
Denha was not afraid to challenge the status quo and the traditional political way of thinking that he embraced earlier in Iraq. He started thinking of the American Dream as a new idea, a big idea, and really knew how to go after it.
He believed that big thinking preceded great achievements and anyone charting a new course would face resistance. A pioneer must be capable of choosing his own path. A trailblazer should be capable of achieving new horizons and doing what is best for everyone to become successful.
Denha states his vision clearly: “If someone truly believes that they will be successful, they become successful.” In life, all have a natural disposition, a unique set of traits that give us a competitive advantage over others. When you understand what your unique gifts are and cast a vision that is aligned with that ambition, then you will be successful.
The world of journalism
Denha’s interest in calligraphy and writing started early in his high school years. A group of friends that included Bassam Faraj, Dawood Al-Farhan, and Richard Jerjis issued a flyer called The Voice of Humanity. Denha exchanged the issues with his school friend, neighbor and brother-in-law, Iraq’s soccer national team captain, Abed Kadhum, who published the friends’ magazine.
In the United States, Amir Denha’s passion for pen and paper surfaced again when he joined a revival that took place in the nineties. His aim was to carve a niche for himself in a challenging industry, among a host of adversaries within other emerging newspapers who used the community news to lodge themselves within the larger multicultural metropolitan family.
There is no denying that Amir Denha was adventurous in his early days. As a newcomer to Michigan, Denha found himself in a difficult situation - pushing the boundaries of free access to information, free thought, and free expression on one of the most daring issues (Iraq), in one of the most uncompromising parts of the world at that time.
A score of community newspapers and magazines were published and faded during the last few decades in Detroit. They had attempted to publish information about the city of Detroit and its diverse communities, as many Arab Americans turned to both Arabic- and English-language media for news and commentary, where they were exposed to very different versions on the story of the moment, but they made scant reference to the contributions of Chaldean Americans or their achievements.
During the last century, before the emergence of internet-based media, the local immigrant community had few ways to stay informed about the happening in their home country. Later, advances in television brought Al-Jazeera from Qatar and BBC from London, as well as CNN and MSNBC content directly into metro Detroit living rooms. Local Arabic-language newspapers were intently focused on the Middle East conflict, the Iraq-Iran War, The Gulf Wars, and the fallout from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
News reflected the pull-and-tug among Arab and Iraqi Americans, between patriotic support for the United States and their often-strong disagreement with U.S. policies and actions in the Middle East. This changed with time as people started focusing less on politics and more on economics and issues that impacted their lives here in Michigan and across the United States.
The fact of the matter is that Chaldean news media used publishing in Arabic/English as a medium of expression, and Arab and Chaldean authors and writers have been making their voices heard with originality and confidence in TV- Orient, MEA-TV, Arab Voice of Detroit, and new publications like The Chaldean News.
The Chaldean Detroit Times
The Chaldean Detroit Times was issued as a publication geared towards the Chaldean and Arab-American communities in the Detroit metro area, with content focused on local news and how the community dealt with these happenings.
The first issue of the Chaldean Detroit Times (CDT) was published April 1, 1990. For over 25 years, the CDT was the Chaldean and Arab-American community’s leading publication, spread throughout the metro area.
Its mission was to provide the Middle Eastern communities with local, national, and world news. Its purpose was to engage the new generation and enrich the Middle Eastern lifestyle for individuals and their communities through the presentation of events, articles, reviews, as well as other material with Chaldean and Arab-American related content and interests.
Information was presented in both English and Arabic to appeal to all readers with content that covers business news, entertainment, education, politics, religion, culture, and community events. Other popular topics include information from various municipalities, well-known personalities, government officials, civic organizations, business associates, universities, religious institutions, and many others.
The Chaldean Detroit Times has been recognized and honored by many political figures, news stations, churches, and local organizations. Its twice-monthly circulation was 10,000 per edition and the subscription was free.
As a young Iraqi citizen from the Arab world, Denha faced opposition writing about matters close to his identity. Being a newcomer, outside the dominant culture, was tough in the 1980s. Denha began raising critical issues about Iraq at a time when media was tainted by misinformation.
Earlier in his career, Denha wrote editorial columns and commentaries for the DCT. His posts advocated moderate community views and a “neutral Iraqi nationalist voice,” that rejected extremism, embraced peace, and opposed the use of violence.
Denha proudly speaks about his journalistic journey. “I am the owner and operator of the Chaldean Detroit Times. I started the newspaper in 1989 and published my first issue in 1990. In the past twenty-five years, I have delivered world-wide news to the Arab American and Chaldean community nationwide. One of my greatest achievements is playing a significant role when the Chaldean Archdiocese was originated in 1980. On top of contributing to my own publication, I have written numerous articles for church bulletins, the Chaldean Iraqi Association of Michigan (CIAAM) and other newspapers.
“I have been interviewed by CNN, ABC, BBC, Al-Jazeera, and other admired news organizations locally and throughout the world. I was regularly featured and interviewed by the newspapers of the time and various Iraqi media channels.”
As well as its founder, the Chaldean Detroit Times has been recognized and honored by many political figures, news stations, churches, and local organizations as well. To celebrate the American Dream, and 22 years of successfully publishing the community news, a Gala event was held on March 28, 2012.
The Gulf Wars and sanctions years
The invasion of Kuwait, the Iraq-Iran war, and the Gulf wars of 1991 and 2003 launched the prominence of CNN and Al-Jazeera and helped establish Denha’s publishing program.
Denha continued to be a regular guest, appearing on television and radio networks throughout the Middle East and the United States, including ABC, CBS, and NPR. In later years, he was on CNN, BBC, ANA, Al-Jazeera, and Detroit local channels 2, 4, 7 during the weeks leading up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.
As an author of numerous articles, interviews, and publications on the Iraq sanctions and the protests leading to the wars, Denha repeatedly warned that the root causes for social unrest in the Arab world since the 6 Day War and Arab defeat in 1967 were still simmering, adding that the next explosion would be catastrophic for Iraq and the region.
On March 20, 2003, the United States and its allies launched their land invasion of Iraq. Denha’s political visibility and engagement continued as he brought coverage to the forefront of Chaldean American homes. His markers and contributions remain carved in the memory of his generation.
Iraq in the Heart
Denha’s tilt and support of Saddam’s policies and regime drew lots of attention and was met with criticism from members of the Iraqi and Chaldean Community within the U.S., who described him as “an associate of the Ba’athists.”
He also provoked negative reactions from U.S. media, which widely viewed his “pan-Arabism” as radical thinking. His difficulties in getting his views noticed began once he was branded a pro-Ba’athist sympathizer. His views and editorials about Iraqi issues were suddenly seen not as patriotic, but as “propaganda.” Nevertheless, he remained consistent with his views and continued to sound his voice in politics, despite the robust double standard that complicated the publishing of Iraqi-Chaldean perspectives.
Despite his physical separation from Iraq, Denha is still attached to his Iraqi and Middle Eastern roots. He is a huge fan of Egyptian singer, Um Kalthoum, and together with lifelong friends Jalal Arabo and Francis Boji, he enjoys the songs. His eyes light up with joy as he speaks fondly about his two loyal friends and the quality time he spends with them.
Final words and wishes
“I have many wishes for Iraq and the United States. My heart lies within Iraq, where I was born and grew up. Iraqis had been living through an unmerciful time of wars and conflicts. I am proud to be a member of this Iraqi Chaldean community in the United States.
“My wish for my country is that we can restore peace, protect, preserve, promote, and uphold the image of the Iraqis with pride and dignity. I wish one day that all Iraqis will unify as one to save the country from falling in the hands of big-time corruptors; to be governed by honest, nationalistic leaders, whose true love for the country will be matched by sincere action, which may start moving the country forward.”
Denha cautions: “We often forget that the United States is the gravity center of democracy and freedom. This great country has given us the opportunities and the successes we enjoy. My hope is that my beloved United States will keep its promises and help Iraq gradually transform its image into a productive and progressive nation where people help one another promote peace, justice, and harmony.”
He adds, “Peace. Real peace will bring about happiness, economic growth, stability, and contentment among our people, rich and poor.”
We are always looking for ways to shine a spotlight and to inspire. Perhaps those community members who blazed the trail and inspired us might also inspire you. Enjoy!
Acknowledgement of material from Mr. Amir Denha’s news and pictures collection, The Chaldean Detroit Times. Excerpts from: Action- Arabic/English Newspaper published in NY, The Orient (Al-Mashriq) in Michigan, The New World, Al-Islah (He Reforms) published in NY, The Detroit Free Press, The Eccentric, and various Iraqi media channels. Special editing by Jaqueline Raxter.