To celebrate the inauguration of the 44th U.S. president Barack Obama, "Second Life" players are getting their avatars together for a night of formal wear and political discussion.

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Time to break out your virtual tuxedos and ball gowns. Tonight "Second Life" Capitol Hill is hosting an inaugural ball to commemorate the inauguration of U.S. president Barack Obama. The creator of the Capitol Hill simulation, Steve Nelson of Clear Ink (a.k.a. "Kiwini Oe"), is hosting the black-tie affair as well as a casual get-together. The festivities begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST this evening, if you want to talk politics and get gussied up.

Take a look at what your avatar could be doing:

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With real bloodshed intensifying in the Gaza Strip as I write this, those playing "Second Life" are also waging war on virtual Israel. "Second Life" blog New World Notes reported from the front lines of "Second Life Israel," where throngs of pro-Palestinian avatars staged heated protests.

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In a story posted yesterday, New World Notes reporter Wagner James Au, a.k.a. Hamlet, spoke with Beth Odets, one of the creators of Second Life Israel. She told him that there were "lots of people yelling... obscenities about murderous Israeli forces" and after evicting the most unruly protesters, she finally had to close the area to outsiders.

However, the story ends on a more positive note. Odets revealed to Au that some people came by to engage in thoughtful discussion. Au's avatar was teleported to Second Life Israel, where he witnessed friendly political conversation between different players who said they were of Jewish or Muslim faith.

One of the attendees said, "Hamlet, please write that I'm an American Jew. Clip is a Canadian Muslim, and we are having a great time sharing our commonalities. I'm serious."

Now if only we could do this in real life.

[via Gawker]