Algae in the Reflecting Pool: Why Green Pond Scum Is as American as Red, White and Blue

The New York Times has published an article titled "E Pluribus Algae," a play on the U.S. motto "E Pluribus Unum." The piece argues that the presence of algae in Washington D.C.'s National Reflecting Pool is not only natural but also patriotic. The authors state that the most American thing to do would be to allow the algae to continue growing rather than removing it. This approach symbolizes harmony with nature and a departure from artificial ideals of cleanliness, which the article claims are contrary to American values.