Think I've quoted this before

Which doesn't necessarily mean I took it to heart. Looking over entries with a Draft status in Movable Type, this is from the earliest one, from June, 2002. The article itself is from June 17th, YellowTimes.org: Just Like Us:

Listening to all the incendiary rhetoric, accusations and finger pointing by Washington towards other nations these days, I can't help but be constantly reminded of the age-old adage that warns us: Beware of the finger that you point towards others, for indeed, in that very act, three other fingers point directly back at you. Buddhism and other worldly philosophies and religious disciplines teach us to weigh our criticisms of others in light of our own human condition. Truly, how can we pass judgment on someone else's words, behaviors, or character unless we have seen these things somewhere before, namely, in ourselves?

On a personal level, there is a small but significant exercise one is encouraged to perform whenever one finds oneself in judgment of another. After whatever statement you make about someone else, simply add the words, "Just like me."

This practice is based on the principle that none of us is perfect and that the flaws we recognize in others can be found within some aspect of ourselves. The beauty of this technique is that it tears away the veils of illusion of our alleged perfection, superiority and self-righteous vindication over others.

It reminds us of our own fallibility and endows us with a sense of humility, two concepts that seem to be utterly lacking within the hallowed halls of the U.S. government in general, but most noticeably within the ranks of the current Bush administration.

If you listen carefully to what our leaders are telling us about other dangerous, "evil" nations, terrorist groups, and "inferior" systems of government, while keeping in mind and adding the phrase "just like us" to everything they say, you will begin to discern just how all this finger- pointing is being utilized to obscure the sins of our own national inadequacies, guilt, failings, and outright evil transgressions.

Ok, looks like I did quote a bit of it back in July, 2002. Which in 'net/blog time is an eternity, yes?

Shame more things haven't changed in the intervening two years, which have seemed like an eternity. . .

Mind you, some things do change. Names, for instance:

The Republican Pro-Choice Coalition has changed its name to the Republican Majority for Choice to reaffirm the reality that 73% of Republicans believe that the right to choose should be a woman's decision, not the government's. The Republican Majority for Choice is dedicated to unleashing the power of that majority in Congress and state capitols across the nation, and the RMC PAC will mobilize this majority at the ballot box.

Seen at Alas, a Blog, along with much else more worth your time than hanging around here.