During his first full week in office, President Obama’s actions were as far-ranging as his vocabulary. From introducing stricter limits on lobbying for political appointees to announcing policies to toughen fuel efficiency requirements for already ailing auto manufacturers, he maintained a largely domestic focus. And rightfully so.

With the economy tanking, he set forth the largest single economic action in U.S. history: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan — a title with an especially important, better future-sounding ring to it — totaling $820 billion. The plan aims to create four million jobs, protect workers from losing health care coverage, modernize public schools, roads and sewer systems, lower energy costs and make college more affordable. The plan will also, most tangibly, cut taxes for people in our bracket by somewhere between $500 and $1,000.

The objectives of the plan do not stop there — with a total value that would, as a gross domestic product, come in between Australia and Taiwan at number 21 — and we had better hope the financial whiz kids who have been whispering in Obama’s ear know what they are doing. As Americans our future is on the line. This is especially true for college students like us, who will be entering the work force soon.

Although the size of the plan might be surprising, we all knew an economic action such as this would come, would aim to do more than seems fathomable and would be pushed hard by Obama, who stressed that “if we do not act boldly and swiftly, a bad situation could become dramatically worse.”

However, less expected words, which mean just as much for America, came from Obama’s first formal interview as president with al-Arabiya, a far-reaching network in the Arab world.

The interview’s content articulated the future relationship he foresees existing between the U.S. and the entire Middle East — at least for the next four years — concerning issues from conflicts in Israel-Palestine to Iran, and terrorism as a whole.

Some might contend that Obama’s even granting the interview signals a weakened American position and others might believe it confirms the contention of that old lady at Sen. John McCain’s Ohio rally who thinks Obama is an Arab who will now destroy us infidels from within our government. However, Obama spoke of a future relationship based on mutual understanding and mutual respect — not a weakened position, just a different one.

On Israel-Palestine, Obama said, “The most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And so what I told [diplomat George Mitchell] is to start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating.”

But he also stressed action. “The moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people,” Obama said. “Instead, it’s time to return to the negotiating table … But

if we start the steady progress on these issues, I’m absolutely confident that the

United States — working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region — can make significant progress. If we keep our focus on making their lives better and look forward, and not simply think about all the conflicts and tragedies of the past, then I think that we have an opportunity to make real progress.”

This new American position is a good one. Amid allegations that the Bush administration gave the go-ahead to Israel well before it began to bomb Gaza,

Obama’s vision of calling on Arabs and Israelis to recognize that their peoples will both die for centuries to come without compromise — hopefully calling on Israelis in particular to recognize that Arabs will hold a majority population in a democratic Israel within a few decades, suggesting that now is definitely the time to negotiate, and suggesting the talks of this compromise will involve many more mediating countries than just our own, is laudable.

On Iran, Obama stressed mutual respect and compromise. “It is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran,” he said. “Iran has acted in ways not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel, their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe, their support of terrorist organizations in the past — none of these things have been helpful. But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.”

Obama does not envision a nuclear-armed Iran and he will not simply look the other way. Instead, he will actually address the situation, something left undone in the past. He will speak with Ahmadinejad — who is already eager to do so – and will try to make progress. Although this isn’t guaranteed to work, it is far better than letting the chips fall as they may.

Finally, speaking in very general terms, Obama framed terrorism as it should be framed — not as the way of all Muslims, but that of a select few who are holding back the progress of the majority through their actions.

“We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith’s name,” he said. “Our administration will be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaida — that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it — and people who may disagree with certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, and we will hunt them down.”

This statement was the strongest and most important of the interview. He seems fully genuine in his hope for a better Middle East. Telling the majority of Muslims — people who simply want to have opportunity and escape poverty, like all people — that the United States will no longer stereotype them as an entire religious group of Islamic fundamentalists or fascists, was essential.

So the conclusion of this week’s Obamameter is one of increasing, yet tentative, optimism. Obama could not have done anything more important domestically than to set forth this plan, nor anything more meaningful internationally than to articulate his vision for the future of U.S.-Middle East relations.

But if our economy keeps falling and fundamentalism keeps rising, his hopes and dreams will be nothing more than words.

– Steve Adams is a graduate student in journalism and mass communication from Annapolis, Md.