There is a difference between giving in, and accepting reality. When you graduated from gradeschool and no longer have all the toys and naptime and juice breaks, it wasn't "Giving in." It was growing up and accepting the reality that things wont be that way again.
What people are being asked to do is accept the changes made for what they were meant to be. It doesn't mean you're giving anything up in the process, but merely accepting the reality that things aren't like they once were.
An amusing note on your example though: If England hadn't "Given In" there would be no United States as they are now either.
There are always 2 sides. I agree the sig thing is kinda silly and I think if someone publically humilates themselves, the best way not to call attention to it would be to not dmand/request its removal. Now not only did windaria suffer for her words, but eulore and a few others have as well. Sorry if I'm not much for Martyrdom, but the whole thing seems really silly to me. Too many hotheads involved.