Well, not necessarily "foolish" but definitely something that was not necessary.  Explain why anyone should have to 'whitewash' him/herself to "help themselves" (appease lazy uneducated disrespectful people who believe that a 'foreign' name is not worth their time to learn to pronounce correctly).  

By the way, many (not sure it was millions in Canada) had their names changed for them at point of entry by ignorant immigration officers looking to promote a copy of mother England.