Sorry to burst another Islamic propaganda bubble about Spain but I live in Spain and I can tell you that the Spanish would be really surprised to think that Muslims around the world have this idea that the Muslims who occupied their lands contributed in an overwhelmingly positive way to their development.
Numerous Historians have pointed towards Islamic Spain as being a beacon European society - a sort of melting pot of traditions, religions and cultures which has only recently been mirrored by the enlightened western world. A society of relative tolerance, which nurtured and cultivated a golden age of Jewish culture and tolerated other abrahamic religions.
Did you know that every year in some parts of Spain they have battle re-enactments where they chase the Moors 'out of town' and they are very proud of the fact which I personally find a little nationalistic but that's my opinion.
Every year, the Pakistanis celebrate the birth of Muhammad Ali Jinnah - their Qqadi Azzam. They celebrate because he was the man who envisioned a seperate state for the muslims. Who bought them Pakistan and who gave them freedom. If there is unanimity on one thing in Pakistan, it is this notion that he was a great leader. Ask the Indians, however, what they think - and they will tell you a different story. They will tell you the story of a man who divided a people. A devisive and wicked man.
A man who shatterd Ghandi's dream.
The point im trying to make is, just because a people celebrate an event - doesnt neccesarily mean that said celebration is "right" or even historically justified.
Celebration of victory over Muslims doesnt neccesarily mean that the Muslims were hated at the time, or were bad/unjust rulers. it just means that the victors decided to celebrate their victory, and that this tradtion of celebration been handed down generation after generation.
This whole idea of a glorious Islamic period in Southern Europe originates very much from the Muslim side.
Think about it, if things were so harmonious then Muslims would still be here in great numbers.
In a time where religious pluarility in any society was larely unheard of, the fact that christians existed in numerous numbers enough to overthrow their Muslim rulers (not sure of the specifics) demosntrates the relative tolerance of the Muslim rulers towards their non-muslim counterparts. The muslims were in Spain for a period of 700 years - had they wished, they could have enforced conversion on anyone and everyone. But they didnt.
Topic: Your Muslim background