On Self-Righteousness

I am disappointed that the characteristic that individuals across our cultures have most in common is a strong sense of self-righteousness and realize the hypocrisy inherent in such an accusation.

Is hypocrisy unavoidable here?
What if the first-person point of view is removed?

It is disappointing that the characteristic individuals across our cultures have most in common is a strong sense of self-righteousness.

Maybe, but here I am posting it on the Internet.

Moving on:

self–righ·teous : having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong (from Merriam-Webster's site)

The issue with self-righteousness is that it is a truth developed and cultivated by the ego.  If you can accept the teachings of the Buddha, truth is found outside the ego.  From what I've read, it seems that Buddhism is more about finding "truth" than finding "yourself" (another reason to remove the term 'I' from the opening sentence).

...he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know. In this latter particular, then, I seem to have slightly the advantage of him. -Socrates

This is one of my favorite Platonic excerpts.  Socrates makes an effort not to assume he knows the truth, which I find wise in such an illusive and subjective field as philosophy.  Similarly to the Buddha, he supports the idea that truth is somewhere separate from the self.  However, this may not help the defense against self-righteousness as he opines himself to be more correct than a politician "who had the reputation of wisdom."