Does anyone believe that if the situation were the other way
around that Ranma would care at all? 

Sadly, yes.

Ranma has already demonstrated that he's a traditionalist in several
areas. Look at his "I don't fight girls" bit, for example. I can see him
looking down on Burakumin easily.
   I like to think that he would say "I don't care what your pgrandparents
did. I love you." I like to think that's what Akane would say, too. But
you never can tell.

I agree that some people are good and kind and racist...I was shocked 
when my own caring, loving grandmother anounced that 'blacks' were 
responsible for all the crime in the south of England.
   I eventually came to accept that some people hold these beliefs 
because they don't care to question the way they arrived at these 
'universal truths'...it has nothing to do with innate intelligence or 
kindness. 

As for Ranma's traditionalism. One of the main themes in the series 
is nostalgia. Has anyone noticed how few times we see a TV, car or 
phone in either the manga or anime?
  What about the amount of characters who spend their time in 
traditional garb?

Ranma embodies much of the samurai code of ethics. His concern about 
honour is one of the driving forces of the series and, due to the 
rather ridiculous circumstances surrounding his curse it is light 
hearted humour. I think it's a commitment to proving his honour (and 
manliness) that drives Ranma, not a sense of tradition.
  He doesn't do much to conform for others sake. He resolutely wears 
his own clothes to school rather than uniform. He refuses to let his 
hair get cut etc...

I think Ranma is intended to be a character that straddles the gap 
between the old and the new in Japan. He becomes a girl and so 
challenges traditional views about male and female roles....For these 
reasons I like to think that he challenges all that is bad and ugly 
about Japans past (note the chinese uniforms he wears) under the 
guise of humour.  This includes class based predjudice...

Ah well! thats my incoherent take on the situation, I may be reading 
too much into the series but I don't think so...Takahashi has 
displayed too keen a wit, a love of ambiguities and a discerning 
intelligence for these to have been mere happenstance and 
coincidence.

NeonB.
 drift5@ihug.co.nz

Things we are unlikely to ever hear...
   "Take me now Giant Robo...NO!...Wait, I mean ARRRGGH!"
      *SPLUT*