I have two neighbors who own Teslas. One is self-conscious about it. The other is not. One is anti-Trump, anti-Musk. The other is apathetic.

Neither are concerned about violence, even in the wake of escalating “takedown” nationwide protests against Elon Musk, and Sunday night’s Seattle fire, which destroyed four Tesla Cybertrucks in a lot near Second Avenue and Spokane Street.

The Washington Post reports that more than a dozen violent acts have been directed at Tesla facilities since President Donald Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. Musk has lost an estimated $125 billion during that time, and company stock has dropped almost 40%. There’s even speculation that his unpopularity as head of the Department of Government Efficiency may cost him his status as the world’s richest person.

As for my neighbors, one says other drivers sometimes randomly flip him off. His wife told me one group even gave her a Nazi salute as she drove by. But they like the car (which they purchased about two years ago for about $80,000) and realize they wouldn’t get much value if they sold it today.

“Would I buy it again today? Probably not,” my neighbor said. “It’s a good car, easy to drive. Maybe this will pass. But I don’t feel unsafe in it, or when it’s on the street.”

My other neighbor is more dismissive. He says he doesn’t care whether people like the car or not. The same goes for the few people who’ve given him the middle-finger salute. “It’s none of their business,” he told me. “I have nothing to do with Elon Musk. But I like how it handles. The engine’s quiet.”

He went on to add that selling the car would make no difference to anything Trump does. “Not my way of protest,” he said. “I get why people are angry, I guess, but get a life.”

I was surprised to learn recently that Teslas are now the most popular car in Seattle, displacing the Toyota RAV4 (I’ve read other reports that say the Subaru Outback is the most popular car here).

Admittedly, I’m not a car guy. I drive a 15-year-old Honda CRV. Do I have a right to judge those who drive Teslas? Not really. Do I? Yes, I do. I realize most did so before Musk began his great chainsaw massacre to the federal budget (have you seen the bumper stickers saying, “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy?”) but it still rankles me.

I’m not about to flip someone off. And no way am I giving a Nazi salute. But seeing Teslas around town reminds me of the cruelty happening across America right now.

Note: Both the owner of the publication and our CFO drive Teslas, and are wondering if they’re being judged by the executive editor. I’ll take the Fifth on that!