Should a project manager be involved in the creation of the project charter?

The answer should be definitely "Yes". However as project managers we sometimes have to jump in a project that has been started by another project manager who made the project charter.

defiantly YES. based on PMBOK5th edition on page71, one of items in project charter is : 

Assigned project manager, responsibility and authority level

@Dejan & @Mohammed: I see your points and I couldn't agree more, but for instance I manage "Vendor side" projects in the ICT domain specifically Telcom. operator, most of the cases we get the SOW which was agreed with the client by the sales team and we just have to manage it and deal with unclear SOW and much more other issues. My point is ICT industry makes the PMs' job triple harder a job than it actually is, all because the standard doesn't clearly mandate the PM presence in the creation of project charter and all of it elements.

@Mohammed: PMboK states that ideally the PM should be involved in the creation of the project charter, here where it all the back doors get opened. It does not say PM must be or have to be.. etc.