Many of us have made errors like this. We are the products of our times and upbringing.

If we just shrug our shoulders, say, "That's the way I was brought up," and then refuse to make any self-assessments on our growth, we continue to say and do offensive things.

But there is another alternative. The most important bit of knowledge for us comes from the late Maya Angelou, who said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better."