With an almost exclusive design and nods to West Africa, La Falda managed to stand out in the art of not innovating too much
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La Falda solved an urgent problem: it now has a flag. Finally, this Wednesday the Municipality confirmed the selection of the local standard, which was designed by a young student and resident of the town. The brand-new symbol, which notably resembles the flag of Sierra Leone, will be officially presented in the coming weeks.
Mayor Javier Dieminger, visibly moved by the flag with African tones, stated that it was "a historic process for La Falda." He also explained that there were more than 20 proposals and that the selection was decided by popular vote. The selection took place as part of the "Nuestra Bandera" program, promoted by the Córdoba Legislature.
Nueva bandera de La Falda
A chromatic coincidence with sub-Saharan Africa
The winning design includes three horizontal stripes: light blue on top, white in the middle, and green on the bottom. According to explanations, they represent the Argentine flag, the province of Córdoba, and the natural environment of La Falda, although it could just as well represent a region of West Africa. The resemblance to the flag of Sierra Leone is so striking that even a GPS could get confused about the hemisphere.
But the difference is in the details: eight four-pointed stars were placed on the white stripe, with a total of 32 rays referencing the Argentine sun. Four large stars evoke historic sites, and the four smaller ones, natural places, because the balance between culture and landscape is also measured in points. Ultimately, La Falda opted for a sub-Saharan aesthetic, though without leaving its municipal boundaries.
Of course, it hasn't been confirmed whether Sierra Leone is considering returning the gesture with a flag paying tribute to Dieminger. But with a good publicity campaign, it shouldn't be ruled out. Anything is possible in the world of decentralized patriotic design.
Bandera de Sierra Leona
Similarities despite the distance
Mayor Javier Dieminger stated that July 8 will be decreed as Flag Day for La Falda. "It was a historic process for La Falda," he said, as if the idyllic symbol were coming to replace the Constitution. The curious fact is that the same process had more participation than many public hearings on basic services.
Strikingly, the former British colony and the radical stronghold seem to have something in common: the health system. In Sierra Leone, the health system is also deficient: there are few doctors, resources are scarce, and hospitals are constantly overwhelmed. With all due differences, something similar happened in La Falda, although there they were able to enjoy expensive summer festivals (they just had to give up medical care).
